Isothermal titration calorimetric studies on the interaction of the major bovine seminal plasma protein, PDC-109 with phospholipid membranes

The interaction of the major bovine seminal plasma protein, PDC-109 with lipid membranes was investigated by isothermal titration calorimetry. Binding of the protein to model membranes made up of diacyl phospholipids was found to be endothermic, with positive values of binding enthalpy and entropy, and could be analyzed in terms of a single type of binding sites on the protein. Enthalpies and entropies for binding to diacylphosphatidylcholine membranes increased with increase in temperature, although a clear-cut linear dependence was not observed. The entropically driven binding process indicates that hydrophobic interactions play a major role in the overall binding process. Binding of PDC-109 with dimyristoylphosphatidylcholine membranes containing 25 mol% cholesterol showed an initial increase in the association constant as well as enthalpy and entropy of binding with increase in temperature, whereas the values decreased with further increase in temperature. The affinity of PDC-109 for phosphatidylcholine increased at higher pH, which is physiologically relevant in view of the basic nature of the seminal plasma. Binding of PDC-109 to Lyso-PC could be best analysed in terms of two types of binding interactions, a high affinity interaction with Lyso-PC micelles and a low-affinity interaction with the monomeric lipid. Enthalpy-entropy compensation was observed for the interaction of PDC-109 with phospholipid membranes, suggesting that water structure plays an important role in the binding process.     

Fluorescence studies on the interaction of choline-binding domain B of the major bovine seminal plasma protein,PDC-109 with phospholipid membranes

The microenvironment and accessibility of the tryptophan residues in domain B of PDC-109 (PDC-109/B) in the native state and upon ligand binding have been investigated by fluorescence quenching, time-resolved fluorescence and red-edge excitation shift (REES) studies. The increase in the intrinsic fluorescence emission intensity of PDC-109/B upon binding to lysophosphatidylcholine (Lyso-PC) micelles and dimyristoylphosphatidylcholine (DMPC) membranes was considerably less as compared to that observed with the whole PDC-109 protein. The degree of quenching achieved by different quenchers with PDC-109/B bound to Lyso-PC and DMPC membranes was significantly higher as compared to the full PDC-109 protein, indicating that membrane binding afforded considerably lesser protection to the tryptophan residues of domain B as compared to those in the full PDC-109 protein. Finally, changes in red-edge excitation shift (REES) seen with PDC-109/B upon binding to DMPC membranes and Lyso-PC micelles were smaller that the corresponding changes in the REES values observed for the full PDC-109. These results, taken together suggest that intact PDC-109 penetrates deeper into the hydrophobic parts of the membrane as compared to domain B alone, which could be the reason for the inability of PDC-109/B to induce cholesterol efflux, despite its ability to recognize choline phospholipids at the membrane surface.     

Primary structure of PDC-109, a major protein constituent of bovine seminal plasma

The two major protein components of bovine seminal plasma, PDC-109 and BSP I, have been purified by gel filtration, partition chromatography and reverse-phase high performance liquid chromatography from an 86% ethanol precipitate of bovine seminal plasma ejaculate. The complete 109-residue amino acid sequence of PDC-109 has been established by automated Edman degradation of the intact peptide as well as its proteolytic digestion and cyanogen bromide cleavage fragments. The 12,774 dalton structure has two structurally similar domains of 38 and 41 amino acids, each containing two disulfide bonds.     

Influence of the bovine seminal plasma protein PDC-109 on the physical state of membranes.

PDC-109 is the main component of bovine seminal plasma and has been suggested to play an important role in the genesis of bovine sperm cells. Here, the effect of binding of PDC-109 to membranes on the structure and physical properties of the lipid phase was investigated. For that, ESR measurements were undertaken on model membranes (lipid vesicles) and on biological membranes (epididymal spermatozoa) by employing various spin-labeled phospholipids. We found that PDC-109 alters the membrane structure of lipid vesicles as well as of bovine epididymal spermatozoa in that the mobility of spin-labeled phospholipids was reduced in the presence of the protein. This immobilizing effect of the protein was not restricted to analogues of phosphatidylcholine but was also detected with spin-labeled phosphatidylethanolamine. However, the extent of immobilization was lower for phosphatidylethanolamine compared with phosphatidylcholine, supporting the lipid headgroup specificity of the protein. Besides phospholipid headgroups, the physical state of membrane lipids is also important for the interaction of PDC-109 with membranes, in that, e.g., the immobilizing effect of the protein on labeled lipids was larger in membranes above the phase transition temperature compared with the effect below this temperature. The results are of relevance for understanding the physiological role of PDC-109 in the genesis of sperm cells.     

Interaction of the major protein from bovine seminal plasma, PDC-109 with phospholipid membranes and soluble ligands investigated by fluorescence approaches

The major protein from bovine seminal plasma, PDC-109 binds selectively to choline phospholipids on the sperm plasma membrane and plays a crucial role in priming spermatozoa for fertilization. The microenvironment and accessibility of tryptophans of PDC-109 in the native state, in the presence of phosphorylcholine (PrC) and phospholipid membranes as well as upon denaturation have been investigated by fluorescence approaches. Quenching of the protein intrinsic fluorescence by different quenchers decreased in the order: acrylamide>succinimide>Cs(+)>I(-). Ligand binding afforded considerable protection from quenching, with shielding efficiencies following the order: dimyristoylphosphatidylcholine (DMPC)>lysophosphatidylcholine (Lyso-PC)>PrC. This has been attributed to a partial penetration of the protein into the DMPC membranes and Lyso-PC micelles, as well as a further stabilization of the binding due to the interaction of PDC-109 with lipid acyl chains and the resulting tightening of the protein structure, leading to a decreased accessibility of the tryptophan residues. Red-edge excitation shift (REES) studies yielded REES values of 4 nm for both native and denatured PDC-109, whereas reduced and denatured protein gave a REES of only 0.5 nm, clearly indicating that the structural and dynamic features of the microenvironment around the tryptophan residues are retained even after denaturation, presumably due to the constraints imposed on the protein structure by disulfide bonds. Upon binding of PDC-109 to DMPC membranes and Lyso-PC micelles the REES values were reduced to 2.5 and 1.0 nm, respectively, which could be due to the penetration of some parts of the protein, especially the segment containing Trp-90 into the membrane interior, where the red-edge effects are considerably reduced.     

Thermodynamics of phosphorylcholine and lysophosphatidylcholine binding to the major protein of bovine seminal plasma, PDC-109

PDC-109 binds to sperm plasma membranes by specific interaction with choline phospholipids and induces cholesterol efflux, a necessary event before capacitation - and subsequent fertilization - can occur. The binding of phosphorylcholine (PrC) and lysophosphatidylcholine (Lyso-PC) with PDC-109 was investigated by monitoring the ligand-induced changes in the absorption spectrum of PDC-109. At 20 degrees C, the association constants (K(a)), for PrC and Lyso-PC were obtained as 81.4M(-1) and 2.02 x 10(4) M(-1), respectively, indicating that the binding of Lyso-PC to PDC-109 is 250-fold stronger than that of PrC. From the temperature dependence of the K(a) values, enthalpy of binding (DeltaH(0)) and entropy of binding (DeltaS(0)), were obtained as -79.7 and -237.1 J mol(-1)K(-1) for PrC and -73.0 kJ mol(-1) and -167.3 J mol(-1)K(-1) for Lyso-PC, respectively. These results demonstrate that although the binding of these two ligands is driven by enthalpic forces, smaller negative entropy of binding associated with Lyso-PC results in its significantly stronger binding.     

Correlation of membrane binding and hydrophobicity to the chaperone-like activity of PDC-109, the major protein of bovine seminal plasma

The major protein of bovine seminal plasma, PDC-109 binds to choline phospholipids present on the sperm plasma membrane upon ejaculation and plays a crucial role in the subsequent events leading to fertilization. PDC-109 also shares significant similarities with small heat shock proteins and exhibits chaperone-like activity (CLA). Although the polydisperse nature of this protein has been shown to be important for its CLA, knowledge of other factors responsible for such an activity is scarce. Since surface exposure of hydrophobic residues is known to be an important factor which modulates the CLA of chaperone proteins, in the present study we have probed the surface hydrophobicity of PDC-109 using bisANS and ANS. Further, effect of phospholipids on the structure and chaperone-like activity of PDC-109 was studied. Presence of DMPC was found to increase the CLA of PDC-109 significantly, which could be due to the considerable exposure of hydrophobic regions on the lipid-protein recombinants, which can interact productively with the nonnative structures of target proteins, resulting in their protection. However, inclusion of DMPG instead of DMPC did not significantly alter the CLA of PDC-109, which could be due to the lower specificity of PDC-109 for DMPG as compared to DMPC. Cholesterol incorporation into DMPC membranes led to a decrease in the CLA of PDC-109-lipid recombinants, which could be attributed to reduced accessibility of hydrophobic surfaces to the substrate protein(s). These results underscore the relevance of phospholipid binding and hydrophobicity to the chaperone-like activity of PDC-109.     

Influence of the bovine seminal plasma protein PDC-109 on cholesterol in the presence of phospholipids

The interaction of the major bovine seminal plasma protein PDC-109 with cholesterol was studied by employing spin-labelled analogues. It could be shown that PDC-109 does not interact directly with cholesterol molecules. However, in the presence of phospholipids we found a strong reduction of cholesterol motion by PDC-109. The fraction of immobilized cholesterol was largest for phosphorylcholine-containing lipids. This is consistent with the preferential interaction between PDC-109 and phosphatidylcholine. It is concluded that a stronger association and interaction of PDC-109 with phosphatidylcholine leads to an enhanced fraction of immobilized cholesterol analogues, but not to a phospholipid-dependent specific interaction between the protein and cholesterol. Moreover, the interaction of PDC-109 with various spin-labelled analogues of phosphatidylcholine (lysoPC, diacylPC) was investigated. In membranes of lipid vesicles the protein caused an immobilization of the phosphatidylcholine analogues mainly in the outer membrane leaflet, with no differences between diacylPC and lysoPC. The results are of relevance for understanding the physiological role of PDC-109 in the genesis of sperm cells.     

Biophysical study of the perturbation of model membrane structure caused by seminal plasma protein PDC-109

PDC-109, the major heparin-binding protein of bull seminal plasma, binds specifically to sperm choline lipids at ejaculation and mediates capacitation by stimulating cholesterol and phospholipid efflux. We carried out a biophysical study to investigate the membrane perturbation effect caused by PDC-109. Binding of PDC-109 to phosphatidylcholine model membranes was maximal at a 12:1 phosphatidylcholine to protein molar ratio. The process was independent of the membrane structure and involved a slight conformational change of the protein, compatible with an increased exposure to the solvent. PDC-109 binding to dimyristoylphosphatidylcholine prevented lipid molecules from participating in the gel-to-liquid phase transition, due to enhancement of both acyl chain disorder and interfacial hydration. Visualization of the lipid-protein complexes by electron microscopy showed surface irregularities and the presence of 10-nm particles. Permeability assays confirmed the PDC-109-induced disruption of the vesicles. This effect was not modified by heparin. However, presence of cholesterol inhibited the process in a concentration-dependent manner.     

Biophysical characterization of the interaction of bovine seminal plasma protein PDC-109 with phospholipid vesicles

PDC-109 is the major protein of bovine seminal plasma. It binds to the bovine sperm surface at ejaculation and modulates sperm capacitation. PDC-109 displays phosphorylcholine- and heparin-binding activities which are thought to account for its sperm surface coating and glycosaminoglycan-induced sperm capacitating activities, respectively. We have characterized the interaction of isolated PDC-109 with membranes of phospholipid vesicles using a biophysical approach. Our results show that PDC-109 interacts not only with the solvent-exposed phosphorylcholine head group but also with the hydrophobic core of liposomes. Binding of PDC-109 to membranes is a very rapid, biphasic process with half times of less than one second. Maximal binding of PDC-109 to small unilamellar vesicles was achieved with a stoichiometric ratio of 10–11 phosphatidylcholine molecules/PDC-109 molecule. Incorporation of phosphatidylethanolamine or phosphatidylserine into phosphatidylcholine vesicles reduced the binding of PDC-109, suggesting that both the density of phosphorylcholine groups and the surface charge determine the interaction of the seminal plasma protein with the surface of the membrane. Electron spin resonance measurements showed that binding of PDC-109 to phosphatidylcholine vesicles caused a rigidification of the membrane. The relevance of the data for describing the role of PDC-109 in the modulation of sperm capacitation is discussed. Received: 16 June 1997 / Accepted: 10 September 1997     

Characterisation of the conformational and quaternary structure-dependent heparin-binding region of bovine seminal plasma protein PDC-109

PDC-109, the major heparin-binding protein of bull seminal plasma, binds to sperm choline lipids at ejaculation and modulates capacitation mediated by heparin. Affinity chromatography on heparin-Sepharose showed that polydisperse, but not monomeric, PDC-109 displayed heparin-binding capability. We sought to characterise the surface topology of the quaternary structure-dependent heparin-binding region of PDC-109 by comparing the arginine- and lysine-selective chemical modification patterns of the free and the heparin-bound protein. A combination of reversed-phase peptide mapping of endoproteinase Lys-C-digested PDC-109 derivatives and mass spectrometry was employed to identify modified and heparin-protected residues. PDC-109 contains two tandemly arranged fibronectin type II domains (a, Cys24-Cys61; b, Cys69-Cys109). The results show that six basic residues (Lys34, Arg57, Lys59, Arg64, Lys68, and Arg104) were shielded from reaction with acetic anhydride and 1,2-cyclohexanedione in heparin-bound PDC-109 oligomers. In the 1H-NMR solution structures of single fibronectin type II domains, residues topologically equivalent to PDC-109 Arg57 (Arg104) and Lys59 lay around beta-strand D on the same face of the domain. In full-length PDC-109, Arg64 and Lys68 are both located in the intervening polypeptide between domains a and b. Our data suggest possible quaternary structure arrangements of PDC-109 molecules to form a heparin-binding oligomer.     

Mechanism of membrane binding by the bovine seminal plasma protein,PDC-109: a surface plasmon resonance study

PDC-109, the major protein of bovine seminal plasma, binds to sperm plasma membranes upon ejaculation and plays a crucial role in the subsequent events leading to fertilization. The binding process is mediated primarily by the specific interaction of PDC-109 with choline-containing phospholipids. In the present study the kinetics and mechanism of the interaction of PDC-109 with phospholipid membranes were investigated by the surface plasmon resonance technique. Binding of PDC-109 to different phospholipid membranes containing 20% cholesterol (wt/wt) indicated that binding occurs by a single-step mechanism. The association rate constant (k(1)) for the binding of PDC-109 to dimyristoylphosphatidylcholine (DMPC) membranes containing cholesterol was estimated to be 5.7 x 10(5) M(-1) s(-1) at 20 degrees C, while the values of k(1) estimated at the same temperature for the binding to membranes of negatively charged phospholipids such as dimyristoylphosphatidylglycerol (DMPG) and dimyristoylphosphatidic acid (DMPA) containing 20% cholesterol (wt/wt) were at least three orders of magnitude lower. The dissociation rate constant (k(-1)) for the DMPC/PDC-109 system was found to be 2.7 x 10(-2) s(-1) whereas the k(-1) values obtained with DMPG and DMPA was about three to four times higher. From the kinetic data, the association constant for the binding of PDC-109 to DMPC was estimated as 2.1 x 10(7) M(-1). The association constants for different phospholipids investigated decrease in the order: DMPC > DMPG > DMPA > DMPE. Thus the higher affinity of PDC-109 for choline phospholipids is reflected in a faster association rate constant and a slower dissociation rate constant for DMPC as compared to the other phospholipids. Binding of PDC-109 to dimyristoylphosphatidylethanolamine and dipalmitoylphosphatidylethanolamine, which are also zwitterionic, was found to be very weak, clearly indicating that the charge on the lipid headgroup is not the determining factor for the binding. Analysis of the activation parameters indicates that the interaction of PDC-109 with DMPC membranes is favored by a strong entropic contribution, whereas negative entropic contribution is primarily responsible for the rather weak interaction of this protein with DMPA and DMPG.     

The lipid composition modulates the influence of the bovine seminal plasma protein PDC-109 on membrane stability

The bovine seminal plasma protein PDC-109 exerts an essential influence on the sperm cell plasma membrane during capacitation. However, by any mechanism, it has to be ensured that this function of the protein on sperm cells is not initiated too early, that is, upon ejaculation when PDC-109 and sperm cells come into first contact, but rather at later stages of sperm genesis in the female genital tract. To answer the question of whether changes of the bovine sperm lipid composition can modulate the effect of PDC-109 on sperm membranes, we have investigated the influence of PDC-109 on the integrity of (i) differently composed lipid vesicles and of (ii) membranes from human red blood cells and bovine spermatozoa. PDC-109 most effectively disturbed lipid membranes composed of choline-containing phospholipids and in the absence of cholesterol. The impact of the protein on lipid vesicles was attenuated in the presence of cholesterol or of noncholine-containing phospholipids, such as phosphatidylethanolamine or phosphatidylserine. An extraction of cholesterol from lipid or biological membranes using methyl-beta-cyclodextrin caused an increased membrane perturbation by PDC-109. Our results argue for a oppositional effect of PDC-109 during sperm cell genesis. We hypothesize that the lipid composition of ejaculated bull sperm cells allows a binding of PDC-109 without leading to an impairment of the plasma membrane. At later stages of sperm cell genesis upon release of cholesterol from sperm membranes, PDC-109 triggers a destabilization of the cells.     

The bovine seminal plasma protein PDC-109 extracts phosphorylcholine-containing lipids from the outer membrane leaflet

The bovine seminal plasma protein PDC-109 modulates the maturation of bull sperm cells by removing lipids, mainly phosphatidylcholine and cholesterol, from their cellular membrane. Here, we have characterized the process of extraction of endogenous phospholipids and of their respective analogues. By measuring the PDC-109-mediated release of fluorescent phospholipid analogues from lipid vesicles and from biological membranes (human erythrocytes, bovine epididymal sperm cells), we showed that PDC-109 extracts phospholipids with a phosphorylcholine headgroup mainly from the outer leaflet of these membranes. The ability of PDC-109 to extract endogenous phospholipids from epididymal sperm cells was followed by mass spectrometry, which allowed us to characterize the fatty acid pattern of the released lipids. From these cells, PDC-109 extracted phosphatidylcholine and sphingomyelin that contained an enrichment of mono- and di-unsaturated fatty acids as well as short-chain and lyso-phosphatidylcholine species. Based on the results, a model explaining the phospholipid specificity of PDC-109-mediated lipid release is presented. Astrid Tannert and Anke Kurz have contributed equally to this work. Dedicated to Prof. K. Arnold on the occasion of his 65th birthday.     

Sequence-specific 1H NMR assignments and structural characterization of bovine seminal fluid protein PDC-109 domain b

Sequence-specific resonance assignments for the isolated second or b domain of the bovine seminal fluid protein PDC-109 have been obtained from analysis of two-dimensional 1H NMR experiments recorded at 500 MHz. These assignments include the identification of all aromatic and most aliphatic amino acid resonances. Stereospecific assignment of resonances stemming from the Val2 CH3 gamma,gamma' groups and from seven CH beta,beta' geminal pairs has been accomplished by analysis of 3J alpha beta coupling constants in conjunction with patterns of cross-peak intensities observed in two-dimensional nuclear Overhauser effect (NOESY) spectra. Analysis of NOESY and 3J alpha NH data reveals a small antiparallel beta-sheet involving stretches containing residues 25-28 and 39-42, a cis-proline residue (Pro4), antiparallel strands consisting of residues 1-3, 5-7, and 10-13, and an aromatic cluster composed of Tyr7, Trp26, and Tyr33. The results of distance geometry and restrained molecular dynamics calculations indicate that the global fold of the PDC-109 b domain, a type II module related to those found in fibronectin, is somewhat different from that predicted by modeling the structure on the basis of homology between type II and kringle units. A shallow depression in the molecular surface which presents a solvent-exposed hydrophobic area--a potential ligand-binding site-is identified in the NMR-based models.     

Membrane insertion and lipid-protein interactions of bovine seminal plasma protein PDC-109 investigated by spin-label electron spin resonance spectroscopy

The interaction of the major acidic bovine seminal plasma protein, PDC-109, with dimyristoylphosphatidylcholine (DMPC) membranes has been investigated by spin-label electron spin resonance spectroscopy. Studies employing phosphatidylcholine spin labels, bearing the spin labels at different positions along the sn-2 acyl chain indicate that the protein penetrates into the hydrophobic interior of the membrane and interacts with the lipid acyl chains up to the 14th C atom. Binding of PDC-109 at high protein/lipid ratios (PDC-109:DMPC = 1:2, w/w) results in a considerable decrease in the chain segmental mobility of the lipid as seen by spin-label electron spin resonance spectroscopy. A further interesting new observation is that, at high concentrations, PDC-109 is capable of (partially) solubilizing DMPC bilayers. The selectivity of PDC-109 in its interaction with membrane lipids was investigated by using different spin-labeled phospholipid and steroid probes in the DMPC host membrane. These studies indicate that the protein exhibits highest selectivity for the choline phospholipids phosphatidylcholine and sphingomyelin under physiological conditions of pH and ionic strength. The selectivity for different lipids is in the following order: phosphatidylcholine approximately sphingomyelin > or = phosphatidic acid (pH 6.0) > phosphatidylglycerol approximately phosphatidylserine approximately and rostanol > phosphatidylethanolamine > or = N-acyl phosphatidylethanolamine > cholestane. Thus, the lipids bearing the phosphocholine moiety in the headgroup are clearly the lipids most strongly recognized by PDC-109. However, these studies demonstrate that this protein also recognizes other lipids such as phosphatidylglycerol and the sterol androstanol, albeit with somewhat reduced affinity.     

Identification of PDC-109-like protein(s) in buffalo seminal plasma

The FN-2 family of seminal plasma proteins represents the major protein fraction of bovine seminal plasma. These proteins also constitute the major seminal plasma proteins fraction in horse, goat and bison seminal plasma and are present in pig, rat, mouse, hamster and human seminal plasma. BSP-A1 and BSP-A2, the predominant proteins of the FN-2 family, are collectively termed as PDC-109. Fn-2 proteins play an important role in fertilization, including sperm capacitation and formation of oviductal sperm reservoirs. Significantly, BSP proteins were also shown to have negative effects in the context of sperm storage. No conclusive evidence for the presence of buffalo seminal plasma protein(s) similar to PDC-109 exists. Studies with buffalo seminal plasma indicated that isolation and identification of PDC-109-like protein(s) from buffalo seminal plasma by conventional methods might be difficult. Thus, antibodies raised against PDC-109 isolated, and purified from cattle seminal plasma, were used for investigating the presence of PDC-109-like protein(s) in buffalo seminal plasma. Buffalo seminal plasma proteins were resolved on SDS-PAGE, blotted to nitro cellulose membranes and probed for the presence of PDC-109-like protein(s) using the PDC-109 antisera raised in rabbits. A distinct immunoreactive band well below the 20-kDa regions indicated the presence of PDC-109-like protein(s) in buffalo seminal plasma.     

The collagen-binding site of type-II units of bovine seminal fluid protein PDC-109 and fibronectin

A single type-II domain has been isolated by limited proteolysis of the collagen-binding bovine seminal fluid protein, PDC-109. The 45-residue fragment corresponding to the second type-II domain of the parent molecule was found to have retained affinity for immobilized collagen, indicating that this minidomain carries critical regions of the collagen-binding site. Studies on various fragments of fibronectin have also implicated the two type-II units of this molecule in collagen-binding. In the present work we have found that type-II domains of human fibronectin, expressed in Escherichia coli as beta-galactosidase fusion proteins, bind specifically to immobilized collagen.     

Crystallization and preliminary X-ray diffraction analysis of bovine seminal plasma PDC-109, a protein composed of two fibronectin type II domains

PDC-109 is a 13 kDa glycoprotein and the major phosphorylcholine- and heparin-binding protein of bull seminal plasma. It is built by an acidic 23-residue N-terminal sequence followed by a tandem of fibronectin type II domains. Full-length PDC-109 was crystallized in complex with o-phosphorylcholine by vapor diffusion in sitting drops. Crystals grew to maximal size of 0.5 × 0.3 × 0.2 mm³, diffract x-rays beyond 2.6 Å resolution, and belong to space group P321 with unit cell dimensions a = b = 93.6 Å, c = 52.7 Å. Proteins 28:454–456, 1997. © 1997 Wiley-Liss, Inc.