BACKGROUND: The prostate and testis expression (PATE)-like family of proteins are expressed mainly in the male genital tract. They are localized in the sperm head and are homologous to SP-10, the acrosomal vesicle protein also named ACRV1. Our aim was to characterize the expression and functional role of three PATE-like proteins in the testis and ejaculated sperm. METHODS: The expression and localization of PATE-like proteins in human testis biopsies (n= 95) and sperm cells were assessed by RT-PCR, immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence staining (at least 600 sperm cells per specimen). The function of the PATE protein was tested by the hemizona assay and hamster egg penetration test (HEPT). RESULTS: PATE and PATE-M genes and proteins were present almost exclusively in germ cells in the testis: immunoflourescence showed that the percentage of germ cells positive for PATE, PATE-M and PATE-B was 85, 50 and 2%, respectively. PATE and PATE-M proteins were localized in the equatorial segment of the sperm head, while PATE-B protein was localized in the post-acrosomal region. A polyclonal antibody (Ab, at 1:50 and 1:200 dilutions) against the PATE protein did not inhibit sperm-zona binding in the hemizona assay (hemizona index of 89.6 ± 10 and 87 ± 36%, respectively). However, there was inhibition of sperm-oolemma fusion and penetration in the HEPT (penetration index: without Ab 7 ± 3.9; Ab dilution of 1:100, 4 ± 3.5; Ab dilution of 1:20, 0.6 ± 1.2, P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Our data suggest that PATE protein is involved in sperm-oolemma fusion and penetration but not sperm-zona binding.
BACKGROUND: The prostate and testis expression (PATE)-like family of proteins are expressed mainly in the male genital tract. They are localized in the sperm head and are homologous to SP-10, the acrosomal vesicle protein also named ACRV1. Our aim was to characterize the expression and functional role of three PATE-like proteins in the testis and ejaculated sperm. METHODS: The expression and localization of PATE-like proteins in human testis biopsies (n= 95) and sperm cells were assessed by RT-PCR, immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence staining (at least 600 sperm cells per specimen). The function of the PATE protein was tested by the hemizona assay and hamster egg penetration test (HEPT). RESULTS:PATE and PATE-M genes and proteins were present almost exclusively in germ cells in the testis: immunoflourescence showed that the percentage of germ cells positive for PATE, PATE-M and PATE-B was 85, 50 and 2%, respectively. PATE and PATE-M proteins were localized in the equatorial segment of the sperm head, while PATE-B protein was localized in the post-acrosomal region. A polyclonal antibody (Ab, at 1:50 and 1:200 dilutions) against the PATE protein did not inhibit sperm-zona binding in the hemizona assay (hemizona index of 89.6 ± 10 and 87 ± 36%, respectively). However, there was inhibition of sperm-oolemma fusion and penetration in the HEPT (penetration index: without Ab 7 ± 3.9; Ab dilution of 1:100, 4 ± 3.5; Ab dilution of 1:20, 0.6 ± 1.2, P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Our data suggest that PATE protein is involved in sperm-oolemma fusion and penetration but not sperm-zona binding.
Authors: Tapan K Bera; Rangan Maitra; Carlo Iavarone; Giuliana Salvatore; Vasantha Kumar; James J Vincent; B K Sathyanarayana; Paul Duray; B K Lee; Ira Pastan Journal: Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A Date: 2002-03-05 Impact factor: 11.205
Authors: Chelsea L Loughner; Elspeth A Bruford; Monica S McAndrews; Emili E Delp; Sudha Swamynathan; Shivalingappa K Swamynathan Journal: Hum Genomics Date: 2016-04-21 Impact factor: 4.639