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BOR - Papers in Press, published online ahead of print April 2, 2003.
Biol Reprod 2003, 10.1095/biolreprod.102.012658
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BIOLOGY OF REPRODUCTION 69, 365–372 (2003)
DOI: 10.1095/biolreprod.102.012658
© 2003 by the Society for the Study of Reproduction, Inc.

Female Reproductive Tract

Zona-Binding Inhibitory Factor-1 from Human Follicular Fluid Is an Isoform of Glycodelin1

P.C.N. Chiu3, R. Koistinen4, H. Koistinen4, M. Seppala5, K.F. Lee3, and W.S.B. Yeung2,3

Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology,3 University of Hong Kong, Queen Mary Hospital, Hong Kong, China Departments of Obstetrics and Gynaecology4 and Clinical Chemnistry,5 University Central Hospital, 00290 HUS, Helsinki, Finl

Zona-binding inhibitory factor-1 (ZIF-1), a glycoprotein in human follicular fluid, reduces the binding of spermatozoa to the zona pellucida. ZIF-1 has a number of properties similar to those of glycodelin-A from human follicular fluid. The objective of this study was to compare the biochemical characteristics of these two glycoproteins. N-terminal sequencing and protease-digested peptide mapping showed that ZIF-1 and glycodelin-A have the same protein core. However, these glycoproteins differ in their oligosaccharide chains, as demonstrated by fluorophore-assisted carbohydrate electrophoresis, lectin-binding ability, and isoelectric focusing. ZIF-1 inhibited spermatozoa-zona pellucida binding slightly more than did glycodelin-A and significantly suppressed progesterone-induced acrosome reaction of human spermatozoa. Indirect immunofluorescence staining revealed specific binding of glycodelin-A and ZIF-1 to the acrosome region of human spermatozoa, where ZIF-1 produced a stronger signal than did glycodelin-A at the same protein concentration. These data suggest that ZIF-1 is a differentially glycosylated isoform of glycodelin that potently inhibits human sperm-egg interaction. Future study on the function role of ZIF-1 would provide a better understanding of the regulation of fertilization in humans.

1 This work was supported by the Research Grant Council of Hong Kong (grant HKU7188/99M), the University of Hong Kong, Helsinki University Central Hospital Research Funds, the Federation of the Finnish Life and Pension Insurance Companies, the Cancer Society of Finland, the Academy of Finland, and the University of Helsinki.

2 Correspondence: W.S.B. Yeung, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Hong Kong, Queen Mary Hospital, Hong Kong, China. FAX: 852 28550947; wsbyeung{at}hkucc.hku.hk






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Copyright © 2003 by the Society for the Study of Reproduction.