SLXL1, a novel acrosomal protein, interacts with DKKL1 and is involved in fertilization in mice

Spermatogenesis is a complex cellular developmental process which involves diverse families of genes. The Xlr (X-linked, lymphocyte regulated) family includes multiple members, only a few of which have reported functions in meiosis, post-meiotic maturation, and fertilization of germ cells. Slx-like1...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:PloS one 2011-06, Vol.6 (6), p.e20866-e20866
Main Authors: Zhuang, Xin-jie, Hou, Xiao-jun, Liao, Shang-Ying, Wang, Xiu-Xia, Cooke, Howard J, Zhang, Ming, Han, Chunsheng
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Acrosome - metabolism
Acrosome reaction
Amino Acid Sequence
Animal reproduction
Animals
Antisera
Binding
Biology
Capacitation
Carbohydrates
Fertilization
Gene expression
Genes
Germ cells
Immunoglobulins
Immunohistochemistry
Immunoprecipitation
In vitro fertilization
Infertility
Laboratories
Localization
Male
Medicine
Meiosis
Mice
Mice, Inbred ICR
Molecular Sequence Data
mRNA
Mus musculus
Nuclear Proteins - chemistry
Nuclear Proteins - metabolism
Penetration
Polymerase chain reaction
Protein Binding
Proteins
Proteins - chemistry
Proteins - metabolism
Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
RNA
RNA-Binding Proteins - chemistry
RNA-Binding Proteins - metabolism
Rodents
Sequence Homology, Amino Acid
Sperm
Spermatogenesis
Studies
Tissues
Western blotting
Zona pellucida
Zoology
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Summary:Spermatogenesis is a complex cellular developmental process which involves diverse families of genes. The Xlr (X-linked, lymphocyte regulated) family includes multiple members, only a few of which have reported functions in meiosis, post-meiotic maturation, and fertilization of germ cells. Slx-like1 (Slxl1) is a member of the Xlr family, whose expression and function in spermatogenesis need to be elucidated. The mRNA and protein expression and localization of Slxl1 were investigated by RT-PCR, Western blotting and immunohistochemistry in different tissues and at different stages of spermatogenesis. The interacting partner of SLXL1 was examined by co-immunoprecipitation and co-localization. Assessment of the role of SLXL1 in capacitation, acrosome reaction, zona pellucida binding/penetration, and fertilization was carried out in vitro using blocking antisera. The results showed that Slxl1 mRNA and protein were specifically expressed in the testis. SLXL1 was exclusively located in the acrosome of post-meiotic germ cells and interacts with DKKL1 (Dickkopf-like1), which is an acrosome-associated protein and plays an important role in fertilization. The rates of zona pellucida binding/penetration and fertilization were significantly reduced by the anti-SLXL1 polyclonal antiserum. SLXL1 is the first identified member of the XLR family that is associated with acrosome and is involved in zona pellucid binding/penetration and subsequent fertilization. These results, together with previous studies, suggest that Xlr family members participate in diverse processes from meiosis to fertilization during spermatogenesis.
ISSN:1932-6203
1932-6203
DOI:10.1371/journal.pone.0020866