Molecular, biochemical, and cellular characterization of epididymal ADAMs, ADAM7 and ADAM28.
The mammalian epididymis is critical for sperm to acquire motility and fertilizing capacity. This maturation process involves the interaction of epididymal secretory proteins with sperm. We analyzed mouse a disintegrin and metalloprotease (ADAMs) 7 and 28 expressed specifically or predominantly in the epididymis. We found that these ADAM genes are expressed in an epididymal region-specific manner and their gene expression is regulated by both androgen and testicular factors (ADAM7) or only testicular factors (ADAM28). We identified an ADAM28 transcript isoform that lacks the transmembrane domain. Protein analysis revealed that ADAM7, but not ADAM28, is transferred from the epididymis to the sperm surface and redistributed in the sperm head during acrosome reaction. These processes were shown to occur without processing of the protein. Taken together, our results indicate that the two epididymal ADAMs closely related in phylogeny are differential in various characteristics and ADAM7 has unique secretory feature and interactive relationship with sperm.
Oh
Jungsu
J
Department of Life Science, Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology, Gwangju 500-712, Republic of Korea.
Woo
Jong-Min
JM
Choi
Eunyoung
E
Kim
Taewan
T
Cho
Byoung-Nam
BN
Park
Zee Yong
ZY
Kim
Yong Chul
YC
Kim
Do Han
DH
Cho
Chunghee
C
D051722:ADAM Proteins; D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D017931:DNA Primers; D019483:Disintegrins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D004822:Epididymis / Q000201:enzymology*; D008297:Male; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D008666:Metalloendopeptidases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D051379:Mice; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics; D051381:Rats
D017931:DNA Primers; D019483:Disintegrins; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D051722:ADAM Proteins; C502027:Adam28 protein, rat; C472807:Adam32 protein, mouse; C484106:Adam7 protein, mouse; C076862:Adam7 protein, rat; D008666:Metalloendopeptidases