title: Characterisation of Lyzls in mice and antibacterial properties of human LYZL6.
abstract: C-type lysozyme genes (Lyzls) belong to the class of lysozymes and are highly expressed in the testis and epididymis. The members Lyzl4 and Spaca3 have been reported to play a role in sperm-egg binding and fertilisation in mice. However, the function of the remaining two mouse c-type lysozyme genes, Lyzl1 and Lyzl6, is still not clear. In the present study, we analysed the tissue expression and androgen-dependent expression of mouse c-type lysozyme genes and the possible contribution of human recombinant LYZL6 (rLYZL6) to immunity. The expression of Lyzls was detected by RT-PCR, Western blots, immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence. The bacteriolytic activity of rLYZL6 was analysed by a colony-forming assay. In mice, the expression of Lyzl genes was mainly in the testis and epididymis in a developmentally regulated manner and androgen- or testicular factor-regulated manner. Immunodetection revealed the presence of LYZL6 protein in primary spermatocytes and round spermatids of the testis and on the post-acrosomal area and midpiece of mature epididymal spermatozoa. The rLYZL6 protein exhibited antibacterial activity. From the results, Lyzls may play a role in mitochondrial function of spermatozoa and LYZL6 may contribute to the innate immunity of the male genital tract.
authors.affiliation: General Hospital of Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan 750004, China.
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wei
authors.forename: Shi-Jia
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Hui
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Shi
authors.forename: Hai-Yan
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Cheng-Ting
authors.initials: CT
authors.lastname: Rong
authors.forename: Peng
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.forename: Shao-Hua
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Jin
authors.forename: Juan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Jian-Yuan
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Li
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D001483:Base Sequence; D017931:DNA Primers; D019084:Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Indirect; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D009113:Muramidase / Q000502:physiology*; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D017931:DNA Primers; C507694:LYZL6 protein, human; D009113:Muramidase