title: Identification of a role for a mouse sperm surface aldo-keto reductase (AKR1B7) and its human analogue in the detoxification of the reactive aldehyde, acrolein.
abstract: Mouse vas deferens protein (AKR1B7), a member of the aldo-keto reductase family, was purified to homogeneity. Antibodies raised to AKR1B7 revealed an aldo-keto reductase on the human sperm surface, while confocal microscopy experiments demonstrated that this enzyme covered the entire human sperm surface and was concentrated on the mid-piece. Further functional characterisation of a recombinant form of AKR1B7 showed that the likely role of AKR1B7 is the reduction of the reactive aldehyde, acrolein, a by-product of spermine catabolism in the reproductive tract. A similar acrolein detoxification activity was displayed by human sperm membrane extracts but was not present in seminal plasma. These results indicate that human sperm possess an aldo-keto reductase on their membrane surface and are thus enzymatically protected against reactive aldehyde species both in the male and female reproductive tract.
authors.affiliation: School of Biochemistry and Immunology, Trinity College, Dublin University, Dublin, Ireland.
authors.forename: W N
authors.initials: WN
authors.lastname: Jagoe
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Howe
authors.forename: S C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: O'Brien
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Carroll
mesh_terms: D000171:Acrolein / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D000429:Alcohol Oxidoreductases / Q000378:metabolism*; D000449:Aldehyde Reductase / Q000378:metabolism*; D000074408:Aldo-Keto Reductases; D000818:Animals; D006801:Humans; D008658:Inactivation, Metabolic; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D013096:Spermine / Q000378:metabolism / Q000633:toxicity
chemical_list: D013096:Spermine; D000171:Acrolein; D000429:Alcohol Oxidoreductases; D000074408:Aldo-Keto Reductases; C066498:Akr1b7 protein, mouse; D000449:Aldehyde Reductase; C000614209:AKR7A5 protein, mouse