Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 21, 2026

Processing of Human Cardiac Tissue Toward Extracellular Matrix Self-assembling Hydrogel for In Vitro and In Vivo Applications
Published on: December 4, 2017
Cumulus-associated alpha2-macroglobulin derivative retains proconceptive glycodelin-C in the human cumulus matrix
Man-Kin Chung1, Philip C N Chiu, Cheuk-Lun Lee
1LKS Faculty of Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, The University of Hong Kong, Queen Mary Hospital, Hong Kong SAR, China.
Background:
Glycodelin-C is a glycodelin isoform isolated from the cumulus matrix. It stimulates spermatozoa-zona pellucida binding. Here, we report the isolation and characterization of a novel glycodelin interacting protein (GIP) from human cumulus matrix.
Methods:
GIP was purified by liquid chromatograph and identified by mass spectrometry. The interaction of GIP with glycodelin, matrix molecule and spermatozoa were investigated.
Results:
Mass spectrometry analysis suggested that GIP contained the N-terminal region of alpha2-macroglobulin, confirmed by western blot with anti-alpha2-macroglobulin antibody. GIP bound to native but not deglycosylated glycodelin-C in native gel electrophoresis, suggesting that the binding was glycosylation-dependent. GIP did not bind to capacitated and uncapacitated human spermatozoa. The cumulus cells could convert exogenous labeled alpha2-macroglobulin into GIP in vitro. GIP interacted with hyaluronic acid, a major component of the cumulus matrix. Glycodelin-C bound to hyaluronic acid-coated agarose beads in the presence of GIP. Human spermatozoa acquired the hyaluronic acid-GIP-bound glycodelin-C during incubation in vitro.
Conclusion:
The hyaluronic acid-GIP complex formed in the cumulus matrix retains and concentrates glycodelin-C in the cumulus matrix for displacing sperm-bound glycodelin-A and -F and stimulating the zona binding activity of the spermatozoa traversing through the cumulus mass.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
Transcytosis of IgG
IgG molecules from a mother undergo transcytosis starting around 13 weeks of gestation. The amount of IgG transferred and entering the fetal blood circulation increases with...
Proteoglycans
Glycosaminoglycans
GAGS are found in the extracellular matrix of vertebrates, invertebrates, and bacteria. Due to their polar nature they attract water, and serve as excellent lubricants or shock absorbers in an animal body.
Hyaluronic...
Matrix Proteoglycans and Glycoproteins
Glycocalyx and its Functions
Components of...
Immunoglobulin-like Cell Adhesion Molecules
Ig-CAMs exhibit either homophilic binding (to other Ig-CAMs) or heterophilic binding (to other ligands such as integrins). While most Ig-CAMs...

