[The role of human lysozyme-like protein 4 in fertilization and its enzymatic properties].

OBJECTIVE: To elucidate the possible role of human lysozyme-like protein 4 (LYZL4) in fertilization and characterize its enzymatic properties. METHODS: The localization of LYZL4 in human spermatozoa was investigated by immunofluorescence staining, the sources of LYZL4 on the sperm surface examined by RT-PCR, and the role of LYZL4 in fertilization assessed by the zona-free hamster egg penetration test. The recombinant plasmid pPIC9K-LYZL4 was constructed and its expression induced with methanol after transformed into competent Pichia pastoris GS115. The recombinant LYZL4 protein (rLYZL4) was purified from the fermentation supernatant and subsequently identified by Western blot. The hyaluronan binding ability of rLYZL4 was determined by ELISA and the muramidase activity, hyaluronidase activity, and free radical scavenging ability examined by spectrophotometric methods. RESULTS: Immunodetection with a specific antiserum localized LYZL4 on the acrosomal membrane of mature spermatozoa, which was exclusively secreted from the testis and epididymis as shown by RT-PCR. Immunoneutralization of LYZL4 significantly decreased the number of human spermatozoa bound to zona-free hamster eggs in a dose-dependent manner in vitro. The recombinant protein was expressed successfully by the P. pastoris strain GS115. Purified rLYZL4 exhibited a potent hyaluronan binding ability and a strong free radical scavenging ability but no muramidase or hyaluronidase activity. CONCLUSIONS: LYZL4 secreted from the testis and epididymis is localized on the acrosomal membrane of mature spermatozoa and plays a role in sperm-egg binding as well as in binding hyaluronan and scavenging free radicals, which suggests that it might be a multi-functional molecule contributive to sperm protection and sperm-egg binding.

Molecular and biochemical evidence for phenylpropanoid synthesis and presence of wall-linked phenolics in cotton fibers.

The mature cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) fiber is a single cell with a typically thickened secondary cell wall. The aim of this research was to use molecular, spectroscopic and chemical techniques to investigate the possible occurrence of previously overlooked accumulation of phenolics during secondary cell wall formation in cotton fibers. Relative quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction analysis showed that GhCAD6 and GhCAD1 were predominantly expressed among seven gene homologs, only GhCAD6 was up-regulated during secondary wall formation in cotton fibers. Phylogenic analysis revealed that GhCAD6 belonged to Class I and was proposed to have a major role in monolignol biosynthesis, and GhCAD1 belonged to Class III and was proposed to have a compensatory mechanism for monolignol biosynthesis. Amino acid sequence comparison showed that the cofactor binding sites of GhCADs were highly conserved with high similarity and identity to bona fide cinnamyl alcohol dehydrogenases. The substrate binding site of GhCAD1 is different from GhCAD6. This difference was confirmed by the different catalytic activities observed with the enzymes. Cell wall auto-fluorescence, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and chemical analyses confirmed that phenolic compounds were bound to the cell walls of mature cotton fibers. Our findings may suggest a potential for genetic manipulation of cotton fiber properties, which are of central importance to agricultural, cotton processing and textile industries.