• PMID: 26136479
• Gene Name: LGALS1
• Condition: Regulating sperm motility and membrane hyperpolarization
• Association: Associated
• Sex: Male
• Infertility type: Male infertility
• Other associated phenotypes: Regulating sperm motility and membrane hyperpolarization

The galectin-1-glycan axis controls sperm fertilizing capacity by regulating sperm motility and membrane hyperpolarization

Vasen G, Battistone MA, Croci DO, Brukman NG, Weigel Muñoz M, Stupirski JC, Rabinovich GA, Cuasnicú PS.

Lectin-glycan recognition systems play central roles in many physiologic and pathologic processes. We identified a role for galectin-1 (Gal-1), a highly conserved glycan-binding protein, in the control of sperm function. We found that Gal-1 is expressed in the epididymis and associates with sperm during epididymal maturation. Exposure of sperm to Gal-1 resulted in glycan-dependent modulation of the acrosome reaction (AR), a key event in the fertilization process. Gal-1-deficient (Lgals1(-/-)) mice revealed the essential contribution of this lectin for full sperm fertilizing ability both in vitro and in vivo. Mechanistically, Lgals1(-/-) sperm exhibited defects in their ability to develop hyperactivation, a vigorous motility required for penetration of the egg vestments. Moreover, Lgals1(-/-) sperm showed a decreased ability to control cell volume and to undergo progesterone-induced AR, phenotypes that were rescued by exposure of the cells to recombinant Gal-1. Interestingly, the AR defect was associated with a deficiency in sperm membrane potential hyperpolarization. Our study highlights the relevance of the Gal-1-glycan axis in sperm function with critical implications in mammalian reproductive biology. CI - © FASEB. FAU - Vasen, Gustavo AU - Vasen G AD - *Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental (IBYME-CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina; and Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina. FAU - Battistone, Maria Agustina AU - Battistone MA AD - *Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental (IBYME-CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina; and Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina. FAU - Croci, Diego O AU - Croci DO AD - *Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental (IBYME-CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina; and Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina. FAU - Brukman, Nicolás G AU - Brukman NG AD - *Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental (IBYME-CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina; and Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina. FAU - Weigel Muñoz, Mariana AU - Weigel Muñoz M AD - *Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental (IBYME-CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina; and Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina. FAU - Stupirski, Juan C AU - Stupirski JC AD - *Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental (IBYME-CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina; and Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina. FAU - Rabinovich, Gabriel A AU - Rabinovich GA AD - *Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental (IBYME-CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina; and Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina.