Primate specific sialoglycoprotein of sperm head plasma membrane defined by an anti-carbohydrate monoclonal antibody.

A sialoglycoprotein, an integral component of the head plasma membrane of human spermatozoa, is recognized by the a-HS 1A.1 monoclonal antibody. The antigenicity is associated with the sugar moiety since: a) trypsin digestion did not affect the antigenic determinant; b) pretreatment of the cells with beta-glucosidase, alpha-mannosidase and neuraminidase completely abolished antibody binding. Endoglycosidase D and glycopeptidase F were inactive. The a-HS 1A.1 did not recognize a variety of blood-group related synthetic oligosaccharides. The species specificity was studied by indirect immunofluorescence assay. The antibody also recognized an antigen on Macaca fascicularis sperm, but failed to bind to spermatozoa of boar, bull, goat, ram, stallion, dog, rabbit, rooster, carp and eel.