Sorting of the domain-specific acrosomal matrix protein AM50 during spermiogenesis in the guinea pig

We previously identified an insoluble 50-kDa acrosomal matrix protein (AM50) localized to the ventral region of the guinea pig sperm apical segment. AM50 is converted to a 42-kDa polypeptide and released during matrix dispersion in acrosome-reacting sperm. This study examines the sorting pathways and assembly processes which generate the domain-specific distribution of AM50 in the acrosome. AM50 was expressed during early acrosome development and localized to the matrix of proacrosomal granules and the acrosomal vesicle. Initial sorting of AM50 occurred in Golgi phase spermatids, where it became concentrated in the matrix surrounding the acrosomal granule. AM50 remained restricted to the apical segment of acrosome phase spermatids and was finally sorted to the ventral matrix of the apical segment in maturation phase spermatids. By reducing SDS-PAGE testicular AM50 exhibited a slightly higher M(r) of 52 kDa than the 50-kDa form of cauda epididymal spermatozoa. Nonreducing SDS-PAGE demonstrated that testicular and epididymal AM50 were assembled into homomeric complexes of 480 and 450 kDa respectively. Cauda epididymal sperm apical segments contained a second disulfide-cross-linked homomeric complex of 520 kDa composed of a 68-kDa subunit. These studies indicate that AM50 is first assembled into a disulfide-cross-linked complex and subsequently processed into mature AM50. These data also suggest that disulfide-linked complexes of different structural proteins may assemble into distinct acrosomal matrix compartments.