Isolation, partial characterization and biological activity of mannosyl glycopeptides from seminal plasma

Affinity chromatography on Concanavalin-A Sepharose, followed by gel filtration and hydrophobic interaction chromatography, permits the isolation of low molecular weight N-glycosidically linked oligomannosidic glycopeptides (MGp) from the autoproteolysis products of human seminal plasma. The monosaccharide composition of MGp showed only mannose, N-acetylglucosamine and a small amount of galactose. Structural studies were carried out by methylation analysis and chromium trioxide oxidation, and results were consistent with the structures accepted for high-mannose N-glycans. MGp was capable of inhibiting the sperm acrosomal exocytosis mediated by sperm-surface receptors. These data suggest that MGp act as a “decapacitation” factor preventing premature sperm exocytosis.