LYPD4, mouse homolog of a human acrosome protein, is essential for sperm fertilizing ability and male fertility.

LYPD4, mouse homolog of a human acrosome protein, is essential for sperm fertilizing ability and male fertility. Biol Reprod. 2020 Feb 10;: Authors: Wang D, Cheng L, Xia W, Liu X, Guo Y, Yang X, Guo X, Xu EY Abstract Fertilization is one of the fundamental biological processes but so far we still do not have a full understanding of the underlying molecular mechanism. We have identified a human acrosome protein, LY6/PLAUR Domain Containing 4 (LYPD4), expressed specifically in human testes and sperm, and conserved within mammals. Mouse Lypd4, also specific to the testis and sperm, is essential for male fertility. LYPD4 protein first appeared in round spermatids during acrosome biogenesis, and became part of acrosomes during spermatogenesis and in mature sperm. Lypd4 knockout mice are infertile with normal sperm number and motility. Mutant sperm, however, failed to reach oviduct during sperm migration inside female reproductive tract, leading to fertilization failure and infertility. In addition, Lypd4 mutant sperm were unable to fertilize denuded egg via IVF (In Vitro Fertilization) but could fertilize eggs within intact Cumulus-Oocyte Complex, supporting an additional role in sperm-zona interaction. Out of more than five thousand spermatozoa proteins identified by mass spectrometry analysis, only a small subset of proteins (26 proteins) was changed in absence of LYPD4, revealing a whole proteome picture of mutant sperm defective in sp...
Source: Biology of Reproduction - Category: Reproduction Medicine Authors: Tags: Biol Reprod Source Type: research