Statements in which the resource exists as a subject.
PredicateObject
rdf:type
lifeskim:mentions
pubmed:issue
1
pubmed:dateCreated
1990-2-28
pubmed:abstractText
Sulfogalactosylglycerolipid (SGG) is the major mammalian male germ cell glycolipid and has been implicated in sperm/egg binding. Mycoplasma pulmonis, a species of Mollicutes, is associated with male infertility in rodents. Purified SGG incubated in the presence of M. pulmonis was enzymatically degraded by both desulfation and deacylation. Desulfation occurred primarily at alkaline pH, and deacylation also increased with increased pH, indicating that these represent novel enzymatic activities. Digestion was facilitated, but not dependent on, the presence of detergent. Rat spermatozoa exposed to M. pulmonis showed a reduction in SGG content which was particularly marked for cauda (mature) spermatozoa. With the aid of tlc overlay binding procedure, intact M. pulmonis were found to bind specifically to sulfated glycolipids and thus SGG may provide the cell membrane receptor for this organism. The topology of mycoplasma binding to rat sperm was consistent with the known topology of sperm SGG. The reduced binding (and subsequent digestion) of caput spermatozoan SGG correlates with the membrane colocalization of SGG and its endogenous binding protein at this stage. Separation of SGG and its binding protein during epididymal sperm maturation appears to facilitate M. pulmonis binding to and digestion of cauda sperm SGG. The binding and degradation of the sperm SGG by M. pulmonis may play a role in the induction of infertility which follows infection with these organisms by interfering in sperm/egg receptor recognition.
pubmed:language
eng
pubmed:journal
pubmed:citationSubset
IM
pubmed:chemical
pubmed:status
MEDLINE
pubmed:month
Jan
pubmed:issn
0021-9541
pubmed:author
pubmed:issnType
Print
pubmed:volume
142
pubmed:owner
NLM
pubmed:authorsComplete
Y
pubmed:pagination
170-6
pubmed:dateRevised
2006-11-15
pubmed:meshHeading
pubmed:year
1990
pubmed:articleTitle
Male germ cell specific sulfogalactoglycerolipid is recognized and degraded by mycoplasmas associated with male infertility.
pubmed:affiliation
Department of Microbiology, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
pubmed:publicationType
Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't