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Carbohydrate involvement in sperm-egg interaction in the chicken.
1Department of Poultry Science, University of Georgia, Athens 30602.
Journal of Receptor Research
|January 1, 1992
Summary
Chicken ovum perivitelline layer (PL) glycoproteins act as sperm receptors. Carbohydrate removal via trifluoromethanesulfonic acid (TFMS) treatment eliminates this sperm receptor activity, crucial for fertilization.
Area of Science:
- Reproductive biology
- Glycobiology
- Cellular biology
Background:
- The perivitelline layer (PL) of the chicken ovum plays a critical role in fertilization.
- Components within the solubilized PL exhibit sperm receptor-like activity.
- Understanding these interactions is key to deciphering fertilization mechanisms.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of carbohydrates in the sperm receptor activity of chicken ovum PL.
- To determine the impact of deglycosylation on sperm-PL interactions.
Main Methods:
- Solubilization and electrophoretic analysis of chicken ovum PL to identify key glycoproteins.
- Extensive deglycosylation of solubilized PL using trifluoromethanesulfonic acid (TFMS).
- In vitro competition assays to measure sperm attachment and digestion of intact PL.
Main Results:
- Electrophoresis revealed three major glycoproteins in solubilized PL (MW 33,000, 53,500, >200,000).
- TFMS-treated PL significantly reduced sperm attachment (inhibition <26%).
- Spermatozoa pre-exposed to TFMS-treated PL showed an 81% reduction in attachment and digestion compared to controls.
Conclusions:
- The carbohydrate moieties (N- and O-linked oligosaccharides) of chicken PL glycoproteins are essential for sperm receptor activity.
- Deglycosylation effectively abolishes the ability of PL components to mediate sperm binding.
- This highlights the critical role of glycosylation in avian fertilization specificity.