SLC35G3 is a UDP-N-acetylglucosamine transporter for sperm glycoprotein formation and underpins male fertility in mice.
basic_science · Level V
Where this comes from
- Record sourced from PubMed, PMID 41222000.
- Also identified by DOI 10.7554/eLife.107494 and PMC identifier 12611266.
- Licence recorded as CC BY.
- The licence permits redistribution, so the abstract is shown in full and the full text is available from the publisher.
Abstract
Despite the recognized importance of glycans in biological phenomena, their complex roles in spermatogenesis and sperm function remain unclear. SLC35G3, a 10-transmembrane protein specifically found in early round spermatids, belongs to the sugar-nucleotide transporter family, indicating its involvement in glycan formation. In this study, we found that <i>Slc35g3</i> knockout male mice were sterile due to impaired sperm functions in uterotubal junction passage, zona pellucida binding, and oocyte fusion. Mouse SLC35G3 has UDP-GlcNAc transporter activity, and its ablation caused abnormal processing of the sperm plasma membrane and acrosome membrane proteins. Reported human <i>SLC35G3</i> mutations (F267L and T179HfsTer27) diminished the UDP-GlcNAc transporter activity of SLC35G3, implying infertility risks in males carrying these mutations. Our findings unveil the vital roles of SLC35G3 in the glycan formation of sperm membrane proteins critical for sperm-fertilizing ability.
Medical subject headings
- Spermatozoa
- Glycoproteins
- Fertility
- Infertility, Male
- Nucleotide Transport Proteins