title: A sperm GPI-anchored protein elicits sperm-cumulus cross-talk leading to the acrosome reaction.
abstract: The acrosome reaction has long been thought to be induced by the zona pellucida. Here we report the identification and function of a novel human sperm glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI)-anchored membrane protein, NYD-SP8. The release of the protein during sperm-egg interaction and its binding to the cumulus, the first layer of egg investment, elicits cross-talk between the gametes and produces calcium dependant release of progesterone, which lead to the acrosome reaction. An in vivo mouse model of NYD-SP8 immunization is also established showing a reduced fertility rate. Thus, contrary to accepted dogma, our study demonstrates for the first time that, prior to reaching the zona pellucida, sperm may release a surface protein that acts on the cumulus cells leading to the acrosome reaction, which may be important for determining the outcome of fertilization.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Department of Histology and Embryology, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 210029, China.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Yin
authors.forename: C M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Chung
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Huo
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Q
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Shi
authors.forename: H Y C
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Wong
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Bi
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Du
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Cai
authors.forename: W Y
authors.initials: WY
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: K L
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Fok
authors.forename: L L
authors.initials: LL
authors.lastname: Tsang
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ni
authors.forename: Y W
authors.initials: YW
authors.lastname: Chung
authors.forename: Z
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sha
authors.forename: H C
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Chan
mesh_terms: D020101:Acrosome Reaction / Q000502:physiology*; D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D000954:Antigens, Surface / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism; D002450:Cell Communication / Q000502:physiology*; D054885:Cumulus Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D005298:Fertility; D005306:Fertilization; D058851:GPI-Linked Proteins; D017261:Glycosylphosphatidylinositols / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D051379:Mice; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009865:Oocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D011374:Progesterone / Q000378:metabolism; D016415:Sequence Alignment; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D014018:Tissue Distribution
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000954:Antigens, Surface; D058851:GPI-Linked Proteins; D017261:Glycosylphosphatidylinositols; D008565:Membrane Proteins; C539319:TEX101 protein, human; C426726:TEX101 protein, mouse; D011374:Progesterone; D002118:Calcium