Novel conserved structural domains of acrosome reaction-inducing substance are widespread in invertebrates

In the starfish Asterias amurensis, acrosome reaction inducing substance (ARIS) is the main factor responsible for allowing sperm to recognize the egg jelly and begin the acrosome reaction (AR). ARIS is a large proteoglycan-like molecule, and its pentasaccharide repeat, Fragment 1 (Fr. 1), is responsible for inducing AR. Here, we investigated the primary structure of ARIS for the first time in order to improve our understanding of its functionality. Electrophoretic analysis revealed that ARIS is a complex of three proteins, all of which are modified by the Fr. 1 sugar chain. Sequencing indicated that there are two novel, conserved domains in all three ARIS proteins: ARIS N-terminus (AR-N) and ARIS C-terminus (AR-C) domains. We also found that other echinoderms possess ARIS proteins that are capable of inducing the AR for homologous sperm, indicating that ARIS proteins may be a ubiquitous component for echinoderm fertilization. Moreover, we identified ARIS-like genes from Ctenophora to Protochordata.     

Structure of acrosome reaction-inducing substance in the jelly coat of starfish eggs: A mini review

Our knowledge at present on the structure of acrosome-reaction inducing substance (ARIS) in the jelly coat of starfish eggs is summarized. ARIS ia a proteoglycan-like molecule consisting of very long, linear, and highly sulfated glycans and three ARIS proteins, ARIS1-3. Detailed structures of the major glycan of ARIS and of ARIS1-3 are discussed. 3D-models of ARIS glycans are also presented. Phylogenetic distribution of ARIS proteins and/or genes indicates that ARIS genes are well preserved from the Ctenophore to Cephalochordata. In the Echinodermata, ARIS1-3 and ARIS genes were detected in all classes except for sea urchins.     

Analysis of terminal sugar moieties and species-specificities of acrosome reaction-inducing substance in Xenopus (ARISX)

The acrosome reaction of Xenopus sperm is triggered by the acrosome reaction-inducing substance in Xenopus (ARISX), an oviductal pars recta-derived, sugar-rich substance decorated on the entire surface of the vitelline envelope (VE) during ovulation. Here we addressed the functional importance of the sugar moiety in ARISX. Among various lectins examined, soybean agglutinin and Dolichos biflorus agglutinin were shown to abolish the acrosome reaction-inducing activity of ARISX present in pars recta extract or on the VE, indicating the importance of the terminal alpha-N-acetylgalactosamine residue for the function of ARISX. Consistently, the acrosome reaction-inducing activity was not affected by proteinase K digestion, in spite of the simultaneous shift of ARISX to a smaller molecular weight. Indirect immunofluorescence microscopic examinations showed that ARISX was distributed as two types of structures on VE; thick fiber-like materials and thin filamentous materials, and that a new structure appeared on the fertilization envelope instead of the thin filamentous materials. Sperm from several amphibian species were subjected to an in vitro assay during induction of the acrosome reaction with ARISX. The resulting limited population of sperm from a non-Xenopus species underwent acrosome reaction, implying a weak species-specificity of ARISX.     

Primary structure of a 120 kDa protein associated with the fucose sulfate glycoconjugate constituting the acrosome reaction-inducing substance of the sea urchin, Hemicentrotus pulcherrimus

A fucose sulfate glycoconjugate (FSG), a natural acrosome reaction-inducer, was purified from the egg jelly of the sea urchin Hemicentrotus pulcherrimus . The FSG is composed primarily of four constituents: a 120kDa protein, a 237 kDa protein, a 258 kDa protein, and a polysaccharide-containing protein. Among them, the 120 kDa protein was thought to play a critical role in the association of other FSG constituent proteins, and therefore was characterized from a structural point of view. The protein was isolated from the carboxymethylated FSG by preparative sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) under reducing conditions, and then digested with trypsin to obtain information regarding the primary structure. Based on the partial amino acid sequences of three internal peptides (FSG120KA: LHNNEYGYGDTAAGEPELAQEEID, FSG120KG: AIDIPAETGHYGR, and FSG120KC: RPTFDLADAVDT) and the N-terminal peptide (LHNNEYGYGDTAAGE-PELAQQEID) of the 120 kDa protein obtained from intact FSG, degenerate oligonucleotide primers were synthesized and used to amplify a 297 bp cDNA fragment. This fragment enabled us to obtain the full-length cDNA (3176 bp) by 5'- and 3'-rapid amplification of cDNA ends. The deduced amino acid sequence revealed that the 120 kDa protein is composed of 663 amino acid residues including 72 cysteine residues, and hence, about 40% is presumed to be carbohydrate by weight. The 120 kDa protein plays an important role in the association of FSG constituent proteins (258 and 237 kDa) through disulfide bonds.     

Structures of the sugar chains of a major glycoprotein present in the egg jelly coat of a starfish, Asterias amurensis

Sugar chains of a major glycoprotein, obtained from the egg jelly coat of a starfish (Asterias amurensis), were released quantitatively as oligosaccharides by hydrazinolysis. After N-acetylation, they were converted to radioactive oligosaccharides by reduction with NaB3H4. Analysis by paper electrophoresis revealed that all of them were neutral oligosaccharides. Upon Bio-Gel P-4 column chromatography, the radioactive oligosaccharide mixture was separated into four components. Structural study of each component by sequential glycosidase digestion in combination with 1H-NMR spectroscopy revealed that the glycoprotein contains the following oligosaccharides, in which R represents either proton, Glc alpha 1----, Glc alpha 1----3Glc alpha 1----, or Glc alpha 1----2Glc alpha 1----3Glc alpha 1----. (Formula: see text)     

Expression of two different sulfated fucans by females of Lytechinus variegatus may regulate the seasonal variation in the fertilization of the sea urchin

The egg jellies of sea urchins contain sulfated polysaccharides with unusual structures, composed of linear chains of l-fucose or l-galactose with well-defined repetitive units. The specific pattern of sulfation and the position of the glycosidic bond vary among sulfated polysaccharides from different species. These polysaccharides show species specificity in inducing the acrosome reaction, which is a critical event for fertilization. Females of the sea urchin Lytechinus variegatus spawn eggs containing a sulfated fucan with the repetitive sequence [3-alpha-L-Fucp-2(OSO(3))-1 --> 3-alpha-L-Fucp-4(OSO(3))-1 --> 3-alpha-L-Fucp-2,4(OSO(3))-1 --> 3-alpha-L-Fucp-2(OSO(3))-1](n). We now observe that, close to winter, a period of decreased fertility for the sea urchin, the females synthesize a distinct sulfated fucan with a simple structure, composed of 4-sulfated, 3-linked alpha-fucose residues. This sulfated fucan is inactive when tested in vitro for the acrosome reaction using homologous sperm. The amount of egg jellies spawned by females (and their constituent sulfated polysaccharides) varied greatly throughout the year. Apparently, there is a correlation between the temperature of the sea water and the expression of the 4-sulfated, 3-linked sulfated fucan. Overall, we described the occurrence of two isotypes of sulfated fucan in the egg jelly of the sea urchin L. variegatus, which differ in their biological activity and may be involved in the periodicity of the reproductive cycle of the invertebrate.     

The extracellular protein coat of the inner acrosomal membrane is involved in zona pellucida binding and penetration during fertilization: characterization of its most prominent polypeptide (IAM38)

A consequence of the acrosome reaction is to expose the inner acrosomal membrane (IAM), which is a requirement for the sperm's ability to secondarily bind to and then penetrate the zona pellucida (ZP) of the mammalian oocyte. However, the proteins on the IAM responsible for binding and presumably penetrating the zona have not been identified. This issue can be resolved if direct information is made available on the composition of the IAM. For this purpose, we devised a methodology in order to obtain a sperm head fraction consisting solely of the IAM bound to the detergent-resistant perinuclear theca. On the exposed IAM surface of this fraction, we defined an electron dense protein layer that we termed the IAM extracellular coat (IAMC), which was visible on sonicated and acrosome-reacted sperm of several mammalian species. High salt extraction removed the IAMC coincident with the removal of a prominent 38 kDa polypeptide, which we termed IAM38. Antibodies raised against this polypeptide confirmed its presence in the IAMC of intact, sonicated and acrosome-reacted sperm. By immunoscreening of a bovine testicular cDNA library and sequencing the resulting clones, we identified IAM38 as the equivalent of porcine Sp38 [Mori, E., Kashiwabara, S., Baba, T., Inagaki, Y., Mori, T., 1995. Amino acid sequences of porcine Sp38 and proacrosin required for binding to the zona pellucida. Dev. Biol., 168, 575-583], an intra-acrosomal protein with ZP-binding ability, whose precise localization in sperm was unknown. The blockage of IVF at the level of the zona with anti-IAM38 antibodies and the retention of IAM38 after sperm passage through the zona support its involvement in secondary sperm-zona binding. This study provides a novel approach to obtain direct information on the peripheral and integral protein composition of the IAM for identifying other candidates for sperm-zona interactions.