Structural characterization of the oligosaccharide chains of native and crystallized boar seminal plasma spermadhesin PSP-I and PSP-II glycoforms

Eur J Biochem. 1999 Oct;265(2):703-18. doi: 10.1046/j.1432-1327.1999.00766.x.

Abstract

The PSP-I/PSP-II heterodimer is the major protein of boar seminal plasma. Both subunits are glycoproteins of the spermadhesin family and each contains a single N-glycosylation site. After enzymatic release of the oligosaccharides from isolated PSP-I and PSP-II, mainly neutral and monosialylated oligosaccharides, and small amounts of disialylated oligosaccharides, were recovered from both proteins. Twenty-two neutral oligosaccharides, 11 monosialylated glycans and three disialylated carbohydrate chains were characterized using mass spectrometric and NMR techniques. PSP-I and PSP-II share the same glycans but differ in their relative molar ratios. Most glycan structures are proximally alpha1-6-fucosylated, diantennary complex-type bearing nonsialylated or alpha2-6-sialylated N-acetyllactosamine or di-N-acetyllactosamine antennae. The majority of nonsialylated N-acetyllactosamine antennae bear terminal alpha1-3-linked Gal residues. In addition, the N-acetylglucosamine residue of nonsialylated N-acetyl and di-N-acetyllactosamine antennae can be modified by an alpha1-3-linked fucose residue. Structures of higher antennarity, as well as structures 3,6-branched at galactose residues, were found in smaller amounts. In one oligosaccharide, N-acetylneuraminic acid is substituted by N-glycolylneuraminic acid. Mass spectrometric analysis of PSP-I and PSP-II glycoforms isolated from crystallized PSP-I/PSP-II heterodimer showed the coexistence of major PSP-I and PSP-II glycoforms in the hexagonal crystals. Oligosaccharides with the NeuNAcalpha2-6GalNAcbeta1-4GlcNAc-R motif block adhesive and activation-related events mediated by CD22, suggesting a possible immunoregulatory activity for PSP-I/PSP-II.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Carbohydrate Conformation
  • Carbohydrate Sequence
  • Dimerization
  • Glycoproteins / chemistry*
  • Glycosylation
  • Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy
  • Male
  • Methylation
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Oligosaccharides / chemistry*
  • Semen / chemistry
  • Seminal Vesicle Secretory Proteins*
  • Sequence Analysis
  • Spectrometry, Mass, Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption-Ionization
  • Swine

Substances

  • Glycoproteins
  • Oligosaccharides
  • Seminal Vesicle Secretory Proteins
  • seminal vesicle secretory protein II, porcine
  • seminal vesicle secretory protein 109, porcine