Serine protease PRSS55 is crucial for male mouse fertility via affecting sperm migration and sperm-egg binding.

ABSTRACT: Testis-specific PRSS55 is a highly conserved chymotrypsin-like serine protease among mammalian species. So far, the physiological function of PRSS55 remains unknown. Here, we show that PRSS55 is a GPI-anchored membrane protein, specifically expressed in adult mouse testis and mainly observed in the luminal side of seminiferous tubules and sperm acrosome. Mice deficient for Prss55 develop male infertile with normal reproduction-related parameters observed. Interestingly, in vivo fertilization rate of Prss55^-/- males is dramatically decreased, possibly due to incapable migration of Prss55^-/- sperm from uterus into oviduct. However, in vitro fertilization rate has no difference between two genotypes although Prss55^-/- sperm presents defective recognition/bindi

SUBMITTER: Shang X 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6208766 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature