Fertilization is a complex and multiphasic process, consisting of several steps, where egg-coating envelope's glycoproteins and sperm surface receptors play a critical role. Sperm-associated β-N-acetylglucosaminidases, also known as hexosaminidases, have been identified in a variety of organisms. Previously, two isoforms of hexosaminidases, named here DmHEXA and DmHEXB, were found as intrinsic proteins in the sperm plasma membrane of Drosophila melanogaster. In the present work, we carried out different approaches using solid-phase assays in order to analyze the oligosaccharide recognition ability of D. melanogaster sperm hexosaminidases to interact with well-defined carbohydrate chains that might functionally mimic egg glycoconjugates. Our results showed that Drosophila hexosaminidases prefer glycans carrying terminal β-N-acetylglucosamine, but not core β-N-acetylglucosamine residues. The capacity of sperm β-N-acetylhexosaminidases to bind micropylar chorion and vitelline envelope was examined in vitro assays. Binding was completely blocked when β-N-acetylhexosaminidases were preincubated with the glycoproteins ovalbumin and transferrin, and the monosaccharide β-N-acetylglucosamine. Overall, these data support the hypothesis of the potential role of these glycosidases in sperm-egg interactions in Drosophila.
In vitro evidence for the participation of Drosophila melanogaster sperm β-N-acetylglucosaminidases in the interactions with glycans carrying terminal N-acetylglucosamine residues on the egg's envelopes / J. Intra, C. Veltri, D. De Caro, M.E. Perotti, M.E. Pasini. - In: ARCHIVES OF INSECT BIOCHEMISTRY AND PHYSIOLOGY. - ISSN 0739-4462. - 96:1(2017 Sep), pp. e21403.1-e21403.15.
Titolo: | In vitro evidence for the participation of Drosophila melanogaster sperm β-N-acetylglucosaminidases in the interactions with glycans carrying terminal N-acetylglucosamine residues on the egg's envelopes |
Autori: | INTRA, JARI (Primo) PASINI, MARIA ENRICA (Ultimo) |
Parole Chiave: | carbohydrates; fertilization; fruit fly; hexosaminidases; in vitro assays |
Settore Scientifico Disciplinare: | Settore BIO/06 - Anatomia Comparata e Citologia |
Data di pubblicazione: | set-2017 |
Rivista: | |
Tipologia: | Article (author) |
Digital Object Identifier (DOI): | http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/arch.21403 |
Appare nelle tipologie: | 01 - Articolo su periodico |
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