Germ cell survival through carbohydrate-mediated interaction with Sertoli cells.
Spermatogenesis is a precisely regulated process in which the germ cells closely interact with Sertoli cells. The molecular basis of this cell-cell adhesion is unknown. Here, we demonstrate that targeted disruption of Man2a2, a gene encoding alpha-mannosidase IIx (MX), an enzyme that forms intermediate asparagine-linked carbohydrates (N-glycans), results in Man2a2 null males that are largely infertile. The Man2a2 null spermatogenic cells fail to adhere to Sertoli cells and are prematurely released from the testis to epididymis. We identified an N-glycan structure that plays a key role in germ cell-Sertoli cell adhesion and showed that a specific carbohydrate was required for spermatogenesis.
Akama
Tomoya O
TO
Glycobiology Program and, Stem Cell Program, The Burnham Institute, 10901 North Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA.
Nakagawa
Hiroaki
H
Sugihara
Kazuhiro
K
Narisawa
Sonoko
S
Ohyama
Chikara
C
Nishimura
Shin-Ichiro
S
O'Brien
Deborah A
DA
Moremen
Kelley W
KW
Millan
Jose Luis
JL
Fukuda
Michiko N
MN
D000117:Acetylglucosamine / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D002448:Cell Adhesion; D002470:Cell Survival; D003433:Crosses, Genetic; D005260:Female; D018390:Gene Targeting; D006020:Glycopeptides / Q000494:pharmacology; D007248:Infertility, Male / Q000209:etiology; D037102:Lectins / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008361:Mannosidases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D051379:Mice; D009154:Mutation; D009844:Oligosaccharides / Q000378:metabolism; D037121:Plant Lectins; D011134:Polysaccharides / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D012708:Sertoli Cells / Q000378:metabolism*; D013090:Spermatocytes / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D013091:Spermatogenesis; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000502:physiology; D013737:Testis / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism
D006020:Glycopeptides; C045475:Griffonia simplicifolia lectins; D037102:Lectins; D009844:Oligosaccharides; D037121:Plant Lectins; D011134:Polysaccharides; D008361:Mannosidases; C499170:Man2a2 protein, mouse; C038829:mannosyl-oligosaccharide 1,3 - 1,6-alpha-mannosidase; D000117:Acetylglucosamine