Maturation antigen of the mouse sperm flagellum. I. Analysis of its secretion, association with sperm, and function

We report here recent findings on the sperm maturation antigen SMA4, which is secreted by holocrine cells of the distal caput epididymis and binds to the flagellar surface of mouse sperm during epididymal transit. Washed sperm from the caput and corpus epididymides of mice were examined by immunofluorescence and SDS-PAGE using wheat germ agglutinin, which binds specifically to SMA4 as a primary probe. Results indicate that sperm first exhibit WGA reactivity on their flagellae in the region of the distal caput, and that the appearance of WGA receptors is due to the binding of a 54-Kd glycoprotein (SMA4) to the cell surface. Extracts of epididymis containing SMA4 were tested for their ability to bind to the surfaces of caput and corpus sperm. Caput sperm surfaces bound SMA4 in a temperature-independent manner, and binding occurred in the presence of enzyme inhibitors, suggesting a nonenzymatic process. Biochemical studies revealed that SMA4 contains disulfide bonds which stabilize it on the sperm surface and restrict its mobility. Terminal carbohydrate residues of the molecule are sialic acids. The addition of SMA4 to caput sperm flagellae prevented tail-to-tail agglutination, normally seen when caput sperm are diluted into saline; and SMA4 was able to disperse clumps of agglutinated caput sperm. The data suggest that a primary function of SMA4 is to prevent tail-to-tail agglutination of sperm during storage in the epididymis.