title: Gonococcal lipooligosaccharide is a ligand for the asialoglycoprotein receptor on human sperm.
abstract: In the present study, we show that Neisseria gonorrhoeae lipooligosaccharide (LOS) can bind to the asialoglycoprotein receptor (ASGP-R) on human sperm. This work demonstrates the presence of ASGP-R on human sperm. Binding of purified ASGP-R ligand decreased in the presence of gonococci. Binding of purified iodinated gonococcal LOS identified a protein of molecular weight corresponding to that of human ASGP-R. The presence of excess unlabelled LOS blocked binding of iodinated gonococcal LOS. Binding of wild-type gonococcal LOS to sperm was higher than that of mutant LOS lacking the galactose ligand for ASGP-R. These data suggest that the ASGP-R on human sperm cells recognizes and binds wild-type gonococcal LOS. This interaction may contribute to the transmission of gonorrhea from infected males to their sexual partners.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA. Pediatric Infectious Disease Unit, Soroka University Medical Center, P.O.B. 151, Beer Sheva, Israel.
authors.forename: H A
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Harvey
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Porat
authors.forename: C A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Campbell
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Jennings
authors.forename: B W
authors.initials: BW
authors.lastname: Gibson
authors.forename: N J
authors.initials: NJ
authors.lastname: Phillips
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Apicella
authors.forename: M S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Blake
mesh_terms: D037263:Asialoglycoprotein Receptor; D006801:Humans; D007457:Iodine Radioisotopes; D007553:Isotope Labeling; D008024:Ligands; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D009344:Neisseria gonorrhoeae / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000378:metabolism*; D014166:Transferases / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D037263:Asialoglycoprotein Receptor; D007457:Iodine Radioisotopes; D008024:Ligands; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface; C023023:lipid-linked oligosaccharides; D014166:Transferases; C042308:phosphatidylglycerol glyceryl transferase