Gender-specific glycosylation of human glycodelin affects its contraceptive activity

J Biol Chem. 1996 Dec 13;271(50):32159-67. doi: 10.1074/jbc.271.50.32159.

Abstract

We have recently demonstrated that a human amniotic fluid-derived glycoprotein, glycodelin-A (GdA; previously known as PP14 or PAEP), potently inhibits gamete binding in an established sperm-egg binding system and expresses immunosuppressive activities directed against a variety of different immune cell types. GdA has high mannose-, hybrid-, and complex-type biantennary oligosaccharides including structures with fucosylated or sialylated N, N'-diacetyllactosediamine (GalNAcbeta1-4GlcNAc) sequences, which are rare in other human glycoproteins. We now report the characterization of glycodelin-S (GdS). This is a human seminal plasma glycoprotein that is immunologically indistinguishable from GdA, but unlike the latter, does not inhibit human sperm-zona pellucida binding under hemizona assay conditions. Analysis of the N-glycans of GdS by mass spectrometry revealed that all glycoforms of GdS are different from those of GdA. GdS glycans are unusually fucose-rich, and the major complex-type structures are biantennary glycans with Lewisx (Galbeta1-4(Fucalpha1-3)GlcNAc) and Lewisy (Fucalpha1-2Galbeta1-4(Fucalpha1-3)GlcNAc) antennae. It is probable that these highly fucosylated epitopes contribute to the immunosuppressive activity of human seminal plasma and to the low immunogenicity of sperm. This study provides the first evidence for gender-specific glycosylation that may serve to regulate key processes involved in human reproduction.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Contraceptive Agents / metabolism*
  • Female
  • Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry
  • Glycodelin
  • Glycoproteins / metabolism*
  • Glycosylation
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Models, Molecular
  • Pregnancy Proteins / metabolism*
  • Spectrometry, Mass, Fast Atom Bombardment
  • Spectrophotometry, Ultraviolet
  • Sperm-Ovum Interactions / drug effects

Substances

  • Contraceptive Agents
  • Glycodelin
  • Glycoproteins
  • PAEP protein, human
  • Pregnancy Proteins