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Mouse SLLP1, a sperm lysozyme-like protein involved in sperm-egg binding and fertilization

María Belén Herrero1, Arabinda Mandal, Laura C Digilio

  • 1Center for Research in Contraceptive and Reproductive Health, Department of Cell Biology, P.O. Box 800732, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22908, USA.

Developmental Biology
|June 29, 2005
PubMed

Insights

Mouse sperm lysozyme-like protein (mSLLP1) is retained after the acrosome reaction and aids sperm-egg binding. Blocking mSLLP1 significantly inhibits fertilization, highlighting its crucial role in the fertilization process.

Area of Science:

  • Reproductive Biology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Cell Biology

Background:

  • Spermatozoa undergo specific molecular changes during capacitation to achieve fertilization competence.
  • The acrosome reaction is essential for sperm penetration of the egg's outer layers.
  • Identifying proteins involved in sperm-egg interaction is key to understanding fertilization.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the role of mouse sperm lysozyme-like protein (mSLLP1) in sperm-egg binding and fertilization.
  • To determine the localization of mSLLP1 during the fertilization process.
  • To assess the impact of mSLLP1 and its antibodies on fertilization rates.

Main Methods:

  • Immunological assays to detect mSLLP1 localization in spermatozoa.
  • In vitro fertilization assays using oocytes (cumulus-intact and zona-free) and sperm treated with recombinant mSLLP1 or anti-mSLLP1 antibodies.
  • Sperm-oolemma binding assays with varying concentrations of recombinant mSLLP1.

Main Results:

  • Mouse sperm lysozyme-like protein (mSLLP1) is retained in the equatorial segment of acrosome-reacted sperm.
  • Treatment with recombinant mSLLP1 or its antiserum significantly inhibited fertilization (P < 0.05).
  • mSLLP1 and anti-mSLLP1 antibodies inhibited sperm-oolemma binding, with complete inhibition at 12.5 μM recmSLLP1.

Conclusions:

  • Mouse sperm lysozyme-like protein (mSLLP1) plays a critical role in sperm-egg plasma membrane binding during fertilization.
  • mSLLP1 exhibits binding sites on the egg's perivitelline space and microvillar region.
  • These findings support the hypothesis that a lysozyme-like protein mediates sperm-egg binding.

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