‘In Vitro’ Capacitation and Further ‘In Vitro’ Progesterone‐Induced Acrosome Exocytosis are Linked to Specific Changes in the Expression and Acrosome Location of Protein Phosphorylation in Serine Residues of Boar Spermatozoa

Abstract

The aim of this study is to determine changes in the expression and location of protein serine phosphorylation (pSer) during 'in vitro' capacitation (IVC) and 'in vitro' acrosome exocytosis (IVAE) in boar spermatozoa. This was performed in both mono- and bi-dimensional analyses of protein expression through Western blot, as well as through immunocytochemistry. Furthermore, IVC was induced through incubation in an IVC medium, and afterwards, progesterone-induced IVAE was performed. The mono-dimensional Western blot analysis showed the presence of a predominant pSer band of approximately 70-75 kDa, which was accompanied by fainter bands, especially three with molecular weights of approximately 50, 35 and 32 kDa. Neither IVC nor IVAE significantly modified this pattern. Bi-dimensional analyses showed a more complex pattern, with at least five protein clusters. The attainment of IVC caused the disappearance of the proteins with the highest molecular weight concomitantly with the appearance of pSer proteins of 75-kDa/pI 9.5 and 80-kDa/pI 10. The induction of IVAE caused the appearance of new pSer proteins of a 75-kDa/pI 6.5-7.5 and 75-kDa/pI 10. Immunocytochemistry showed that the main pSer expression in boar expression before the attainment of IVC was located at the midpiece. The IVC induced the appearance of acrosomal pSer, which was greatly increased during IVAE. Our results indicate that the changes in serine protein phosphorylation associated with IVC and IVAE comprise not only the appearance of specific phosphorylated proteins, such as the pSer-75 kDa, but also changes in pI and displacements in the sperm location of phosphorylated proteins, like the specific acrosomal pSer signal induced during IVC.