Glycosidases in cultured rat epididymal cells: enzyme activity, synthesis and secretion

During transit through the epididymis, spermatozoa acquire fertilizing the cell surface exhibits an altered glycoprotein pattern. Epididymal cells and their secretions contribute to these sperm-surface changes. To examine this process, epithelial cells from rat caput and cauda epididymidis were cultured and examined for the synthesis, processing and secretion of two glycoprotein-modifying enzymes, beta-galactosidase and beta-glucuronidase. Cells were cultured four days, incubated with D-2-[3H] mannose and L-[35S] methionine, and placed in isotope-free media. Levels of both cellular and secreted beta-galactosidase and beta-glucuronidase were determined by immunoprecipitation of cell homogenates or medium, followed by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) and scintillation counting of bands. During a 1-h pulse, both caput and cauda cells synthesize two precursor forms of beta-galactosidase (Mr = 84,000 and 87,000), which are processed to the mature (Mr = 63,000) enzyme during a 24-h chase. Caput cells release a high molecular weight (HMW) form (Mr = 90-100,000) and mature beta-galactosidase into the media, but not the Mr = 84-87,000 precursor. On the other hand, cauda cells release mostly mature beta-galactosidase. Ratios of radiolabeled mannose/methionine demonstrate a 7-fold greater mannose content in the cellular precursor of beta-galactosidase than in total protein. Another glycosidase, beta-glucuronidase, is synthesized as a Mr = 78,000-precursor which is processed to the mature Mr = 72,000 form. Medium in which caput and cauda cells were cultured contains both mature enzyme and a Mr = 94,000 form, but no 78,000-precursor form. Ratios of radiolabeled mannose/methionine in the cellular precursor of beta-glucuronidase are 2-fold greater than ratios in the total glycoprotein. Secretion is the major pathway of turnover for several epididymal glycosidases, since more than 50% of the total is secreted/day. These results indicate that cultured epithelial cells from the epididymis synthesize glycosidases and that processing and release differ, depending on the enzyme and the epididymal segment from which the epithelial cells were isolated.