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Medical AI Inquiry: You was designed to assist in medical decision-making based on the provided user questions. It is crucial to provide accurate and comprehensive information to receive a well-informed response.  Labels: BACKGROUND, RESULTS. Meshes: Amphibians, Animals, Binding, Competitive, Dextran Sulfate, Dextrans, Dose-Response Relationship, Drug, Egg Proteins, Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel, Female, Glycoconjugates, Male, Membrane Glycoproteins, Oligosaccharides, Ovum, Peptide Mapping, Peptide-N4-(N-acetyl-beta-glucosaminyl) Asparagine Amidase, Peptides, Polysaccharides, Protein Binding, Protein Isoforms, Receptors, Cell Surface, Sperm-Ovum Interactions, Spermatozoa, Sulfur, Vitelline Membrane, Xenopus laevis, Zona Pellucida Glycoproteins.
user
Are sulphated glycoconjugates powerful inhibitors of spermatozoa binding to the vitelline envelope in amphibian eggs? Context: In amphibians, the role of sulphated glycans has not been determined in spermatozoa-egg interaction, although they are known to be involved in other systems. In previous studies, it was found that, in Discoglossus pictus, a VE (vitelline envelope) glycoprotein of 63 kDa exhibits high homology to Xenopus laevis gp69/gp64 and to ZP2 of mammals. gp63 and a glycoprotein of 75 kDa are both capable of binding the spermatozoa in in vitro assays and, having similar peptide maps and different glycosylation, are probably two glycoforms of the same protein. In the present study, binding assays performed by treating dejellied eggs with metaperiodate suggest that hydroxy groups of sugars are not directly involved in spermatozoa-vitelline envelope binding. Competition assays between dejellied eggs and spermatozoa preincubated with dextran, dextran sulphate or fucoidan indicated that sulphated oligosaccharides have an inhibitory effect on spermatozoa binding. In similar competition assays, Le(x) (Lewis(x)) trisaccharide 3'-sulphate inhibited spermatozoa binding to VE in contrast with 3'-sialyl-Le(x) tetrasaccharide. Assays performed with gp75- or gp63-coated beads and spermatozoa treated with fucoidan or dextran sulphate indicated that sulphated oligosaccharides competitively inhibit spermatozoa binding to gp75-coated beads, yet not to gp63-coated beads. Finally, solubilized VE digested with N-glycosidase F retains the inhibitory activity in spermatozoa-VE binding assays in contrast with VE treated with alpha-N-acetylgalactosaminidase.
assistant
It was concluded that VE sulphate groups are involved in spermatozoa binding. These groups are present in gp75 glycoconjugates and are probably located in O-linked glycoconjugates. Final Decision: yes