Possible function of the ADAM1a/ADAM2 Fertilin complex in the appearance of ADAM3 on the sperm surface.
In mouse, two different isoforms of ADAM1 (fertilin alpha), ADAM1a and ADAM1b, are produced in the testis. ADAM1a is localized within the endoplasmic reticulum of testicular germ cells, whereas epididymal sperm contain only ADAM1b on the plasma membrane. In this study, we show that the loss of ADAM1a results in the male infertility because of the severely impaired ability of sperm to migrate from the uterus into the oviduct through the uterotubal junction. However, epididymal sperm of ADAM1a-deficient mice were capable of fertilizing cumulus-intact, zona pellucida-intact eggs in vitro despite the delayed dispersal of cumulus cells and the reduced adhesion/binding to the zona pellucida. Among testis (sperm)-specific proteins examined, only the level of ADAM3 (cyritestin) was strongly reduced in ADAM1a-deficient mouse sperm. Moreover, the appearance of ADAM3 on the sperm surface was dependent on the formation of a fertilin protein complex between ADAM1a and ADAM2 (fertilin beta) in testicular germ cells, although no direct interaction between the fertilin complex and ADAM3 was found. These results suggest that ADAM1a/ADAM2 fertilin may be implicated in the selective transport of specific sperm proteins including ADAM3 from the endoplasmic reticulum of testicular germ cells onto the cell surface. These proteins then can participate in sperm migration into the oviduct, the dispersal of cumulus cells, and sperm binding to the zona pellucida.
Nishimura
Hitoshi
H
Graduate School of Life and Environmental Sciences, and Institute of Applied Biochemistry, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba Science City, Ibaraki 305-8572, Japan.
Kim
Ekyune
E
Nakanishi
Tomoko
T
Baba
Tadashi
T
D051722:ADAM Proteins; D000818:Animals; D015139:Blotting, Southern; D015153:Blotting, Western; D002448:Cell Adhesion; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000378:metabolism; D004822:Epididymis / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D000072196:Fertilins; D005307:Fertilization in Vitro; D008297:Male; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000502:physiology*; D008666:Metalloendopeptidases / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000502:physiology*; D051379:Mice; D008813:Mice, Inbred ICR; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D008957:Models, Genetic; D009693:Nucleic Acid Hybridization; D010057:Oviducts / Q000378:metabolism; D011233:Precipitin Tests; D011485:Protein Binding; D013081:Sperm Motility; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000502:physiology; D013737:Testis / Q000378:metabolism; D015044:Zona Pellucida / Q000378:metabolism
D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D051722:ADAM Proteins; C000606455:Adam1a protein, mouse; C000606457:Adam1b protein, mouse; C000606458:Adam2 protein, mouse; C485429:Adam3 protein, mouse; D000072196:Fertilins; D008666:Metalloendopeptidases