title: Phospholipase-C sensitive GPI-anchored proteins of goat sperm: possible role in sperm protection.
abstract: The role of glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI)-anchored sperm proteins in reproduction has been investigated. SDS-polyacrylamide gels (PAGE) analysis of goat sperm (Capra indica) indicated that several GPI-anchored proteins were released by phosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase-C (PI-PLC) treatment. The distribution of this category of PI-PLC-sensitive GPI-anchored proteins on the surface of sperm was examined by indirect immunofluorescence. The fluorescence microscopic study clearly demonstrated that the PI-PLC-sensitive GPI-anchored proteins are confined predominantly to the head region of goat sperm. Further experiments were conducted on intact and PI-PLC treated sperm in order to decipher the function of GPI proteins. Co-incubation of sperm with peritoneal macrophages led to the enhanced phagocytosis of PI-PLC treated sperm by macrophages compared with the untreated intact sperm. Transmission electron micrographs of the macrophages acquired from the phagocytosis assay are provided to corroborate the same. From the results obtained it is inferred that one or more of the PI-PLC-sensitive GPI-anchored proteins on the sperm surface could act as protection factor(s) that shield the sperm from macrophages.
authors.affiliation: Reproductive Biology Laboratory, Department of Biotechnology, Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee, Uttaranchal.
authors.forename: T E
authors.initials: TE
authors.lastname: Hutchinson
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rastogi
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Prasad
authors.forename: B M J
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: Pereira
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004591:Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel; D019084:Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Indirect; D017261:Glycosylphosphatidylinositols / Q000378:metabolism*; D006041:Goats; D017737:Macrophages, Peritoneal / Q000502:physiology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008297:Male; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D010587:Phagocytosis; D043265:Phosphatidylinositol Diacylglycerol-Lyase / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*; D054801:Phosphoinositide Phospholipase C; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000648:ultrastructure
chemical_list: D017261:Glycosylphosphatidylinositols; D054801:Phosphoinositide Phospholipase C; D043265:Phosphatidylinositol Diacylglycerol-Lyase