Mammalian fertilization is accomplished by the interaction between sperm and egg. Previous studies from this laboratory have identified a stable acrosomal matrix assembly from the bovine sperm acrosome termed the outer acrosomal membrane-matrix complex (OMC). This stable matrix assembly exhibits precise binding activity for acrosin and N-acetylglucosaminidase. A highly purified OMC fraction is comprised of three major (54, 50, and 45kDa) and several minor (38–19kDa) polypeptides. The set of minor polypeptides (38–19kDa) termed “OMCrpf polypeptides” is selectively solubilized by high-pH extraction (pH 10.5) while the three major polypeptides (55, 50 and 45kDa) remain insoluble. Proteomic identification of the OMC32 polypeptide (32kDa polypeptide isolated from high-pH soluble fraction of OMC) yielded two peptides that matched the NCBI database sequence of acrosin-binding protein. Anti-OMC32 recognized an antigenically related family of polypeptides (OMCrpf polypeptides) in the 38–19kDa range with isoelectric points ranging between 4.0 and 5.1. Other than glycohydrolases, OMC32 may also be complexed to other acrosomal proteins. The present study was undertaken to identify and localize the OMC32 binding polypeptides and to elucidate the potential role of the acrosomal protein complex in sperm function. OMC32 affinity chromatography of a detergent soluble fraction of bovine cauda sperm acrosome followed by mass spectrometry-based identification of bound proteins identified acrosin, lactadherin, SPACA3, and IZUMO1. Co-immunoprecipitation analysis also demonstrated the interaction of OMC32 with acrosin, lactadherin, SPACA3, and IZUMO1. Our immunofluorescence studies revealed the presence of SPACA3 and lactadherin over the apical segment; whereas, IZUMO1 is localized over the equatorial segment of Triton X-100 permeabilized cauda sperm. Immunoblot analysis showed that a significant portion of SPACA3 was released after the lysophosphatidyl choline (LPC)-induced acrosome reaction; whereas, the IZUMO1 and lactadherin polypeptides remain associated to the particulate fraction. Almost entire population of bovine sperm IZUMO1 relocates to the equatorial segment during the LPC-induced acrosome reaction. We propose that the interaction of OMC32 matrix polypeptide with detergent soluble acrosomal proteins regulates the release of hydrolases/other acrosomal protein(s) during the acrosome reaction.

Fertilization, the union of male and female gametes to create offspring, is an intricate biological process dependent upon several biochemical and physiological events. Our understanding of the functions of protein constituents of the outer acrosomal membrane-associated matrix complex (OMC) is limited. A highly purified OMC fraction isolated from bovine cauda sperm heads is comprised of 54, 50, 45, and 38–19kDa polypeptides. The objective of this study is to identify and to characterize the 45kDa (OMC45) polypeptide and to define its role in binding acrosomal hydrolases and to examine the fate of OMC45 polypeptide during the acrosome reaction. We isolated OMC45 polypeptide from the high-pH insoluble fraction of OMC. Proteomic analysis of OMC45 by MALDI–TOF–TOF yielded 8 peptides that matched the NCBI database sequence of Tektin 3 (TEKT3). Triton X–100–permeabilized cauda sperm exhibited intense staining of the acrosomal segment with anti–OMC45 and anti–TEKT3. The OMC45 polypeptide was solubilized by RIPA (radio-immunoprecipitation assay) buffer extraction. The solubilized fraction was subjected to immunoprecipitation analysis. The OMC45 polypeptide was recovered in the anti–OMC45 immunoprecipitation pellet. An identical blot stained with anti–TEKT3 exhibited the presence of TEKT3 polypeptide in the anti–OMC45 pellet. Our immunofluorescence and biochemical studies confirm the proteomics identification of OMC45 polypeptide; that it exhibits a sequence similarity to TEKT3. OMC45 glycoprotein possesses both N–linked and O–linked oligosaccharides. Deglycosylated OMC45 revealed a significant reduction in both acrosin and N–acetylglucosaminidase (NAGA) binding in comparison with acrosin and NAGA binding to a native OMC45 polypeptide, demonstrating the important role of oligosaccharides in hydrolase binding. OMC45 polypeptide is not released during the acrosome reaction but remains in the particulate cell subfraction, associated with the hybrid membrane complex.