Purification and Characterization of Plasma MembraneAssociated Human Sperm (alpha)-L-Fucosidase

Detergent and salt extraction studies, as well as cytochemical localization with fluorescein isothiocyanate-bovine serum albumin-L-fucose, have provided further evidence for the plasma membrane association of a novel human sperm, (alpha)-L-fucosidase. This (alpha)-L-fucosidase has been solubilized and purified 8600-fold to high specific activity (35 000 U/mg protein) by affinity chromatography on agarose-C24-fucosylamine. To our knowledge, this is the first report concerning the purification and characterization of a mammalian plasma membrane-associated (alpha)-L-fucosidase. Both SDS-PAGE and Western blot analysis indicated the (alpha)-L-fucosidase is highly purified and contains a single subunit with a molecular mass of 51 kDa. N-glycanase studies indicated the subunit contains N-glycans, and lectin blot analysis detected the presence of mannose, but no terminal galactose or sialic acid residues. Isoelectric focusing indicated the presence of two major (alpha)-Lfucosidase isoforms (pIs 6.5 and 6.7) and a possible minor isoform (pI 6.3). Treatment of (alpha)-Lfucosidase with neuraminidase did not change its isoform profile, providing further evidence for the enzymeʹs lack of sialic acid residues. Kinetic analysis with 4-methylumbelliferyl (alpha)-L-fucopyranoside indicated that sperm (alpha)-L-fucosidase has a pH optimum near 7, an apparent Km of 0.08 mM, and a Vmax of 6.8 (mu)mol/min/mg protein. The unusual properties of human sperm (alpha)-L-fucosidase argue in support of a potentially important, but presently unknown, role for this enzyme in human reproduction.