Protease in sturgeon sperm and the effect of protease inhibitors on sperm motility and velocity

0427714 - BTÚ 2015 RIV NL eng J - Journal Article
Alavi, S.M.H. - Postlerová, Pavla - Hatef, A. - Pšenička, M. - Pěknicová, Jana - Inaba, K. - Ciereszko, A. - Linhart, O.
Protease in sturgeon sperm and the effect of protease inhibitors on sperm motility and velocity.
Fish Physiology and Biochemistry. october, č. 40 (2014), s. 1393-1398. ISSN 0920-1742. E-ISSN 1573-5168
R&D Projects: GA ČR(CZ) GAP503/12/1834; GA MŠMT(CZ) ED1.1.00/02.0109
Institutional research plan: CEZ:AV0Z50520701
Keywords : Acrosome * AGB * Electron microscopy * Sperm motility * TPCK
Subject RIV: CE - Biochemistry
Impact factor: 1.622, year: 2014

In mammals, proteases are present in sperm acrosome and play key role in fertilization. Sturgeon sperm has an acrosome, but its physiology, biochemistry, and potential role in fertilization are unknown. In the present study, we have observed high protease activity in acidic extract of intact sperm compared to that of seminal plasma in sterlet (Acipenser ruthenus). The protease activity was decreased and increased in acidic extract of motility-activated sperm and in the activation medium, respectively. Molecular analysis revealed total protease and serine (acrosin) protease activities in sperm acidic extract which was accumulated in a protein band with relative molecular mass of 35 kDa. Immunoelectron microscopy using an affinity-purified polyclonal antibody for boar acrosin localized the protease at the acrosome region. Moreover, initiation of sperm motility was inhibited after activation in the presence of inhibitors for both trypsin-like and chymotrypsin-like proteases, while the effects of protease inhibitors on sperm velocity were uncertain. Our results indicate similarities in physiology and biochemistry of acrosome between sturgeon and mammals and suggest potential role of protease in the initiation of sperm motility in sturgeon.
Permanent Link: http://hdl.handle.net/11104/0240229