title: Involvement of the prostate and testis expression (PATE)-like proteins in sperm-oocyte interaction.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The prostate and testis expression (PATE)-like family of proteins are expressed mainly in the male genital tract. They are localized in the sperm head and are homologous to SP-10, the acrosomal vesicle protein also named ACRV1. Our aim was to characterize the expression and functional role of three PATE-like proteins in the testis and ejaculated sperm.
  
  
  METHODS
  The expression and localization of PATE-like proteins in human testis biopsies (n= 95) and sperm cells were assessed by RT-PCR, immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence staining (at least 600 sperm cells per specimen). The function of the PATE protein was tested by the hemizona assay and hamster egg penetration test (HEPT).
  
  
  RESULTS
  PATE and PATE-M genes and proteins were present almost exclusively in germ cells in the testis: immunoflourescence showed that the percentage of germ cells positive for PATE, PATE-M and PATE-B was 85, 50 and 2%, respectively. PATE and PATE-M proteins were localized in the equatorial segment of the sperm head, while PATE-B protein was localized in the post-acrosomal region. A polyclonal antibody (Ab, at 1:50 and 1:200 dilutions) against the PATE protein did not inhibit sperm-zona binding in the hemizona assay (hemizona index of 89.6 ± 10 and 87 ± 36%, respectively). However, there was inhibition of sperm-oolemma fusion and penetration in the HEPT (penetration index: without Ab 7 ± 3.9; Ab dilution of 1:100, 4 ± 3.5; Ab dilution of 1:20, 0.6 ± 1.2, P < 0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our data suggest that PATE protein is involved in sperm-oolemma fusion and penetration but not sperm-zona binding.
authors.affiliation: Institute for the Study of Fertility, Lis Maternity Hospital, Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Margalit
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Yogev
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yavetz
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Lehavi
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Hauser
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Botchan
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Barda
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Levitin
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Weiss
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Pastan
authors.forename: D H
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Wreschner
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Paz
authors.forename: S E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Kleiman
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D006224:Cricetinae; D005260:Female; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000502:physiology; D013084:Sperm-Ovum Interactions; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D013737:Testis / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D008565:Membrane Proteins; C452641:PATE1 protein, human