Identification and characterization of the 2D6 and Mr 23,000 antigens on the plasma membrane of rat spermatozoa.

Previous investigations [Jones, Brown, von Glos & Gaunt (1985) Exp. Cell Res. 156, 31-44] have demonstrated the appearance of a new antigenic determinant (recognized by monoclonal antibody 2D6) on the plasma membrane of rat spermatozoa during post-testicular maturation in the epididymis. Identification of the 2D6 antigen on Western blots from one-dimensional SDS/polyacrylamide gels revealed that it co-migrated with a membrane protein (designated Mr 23,000 antigen) present on testicular and immature germ cells, suggesting that one antigen might be a modified version of the other. In the present work, however, we demonstrate that, although they have similar Mr and are present in soluble and membrane-bound forms, the 2D6 and Mr 23,000 antigens are biochemically and immunologically distinct molecules. The properties of the antigens are described and compared. The Mr 23,000 antigen is present on both testicular and cauda epididymidal spermatozoa, has a pI of 6.1, contains no detectable carbohydrate, is not tissue-specific and is degraded by V8 protease. By contrast, the 2D6 antigen is glycosylated, has a broad pI from 4.5 to 6.1, is tissue- and species-specific and is resistant to digestion with V8 protease. Its role in sperm-egg recognition is discussed.