Research article summary (published 12 May 2008):

Protein composition of human epididymosomes collected during surgical vasectomy reversal: a proteomic and genomic approach.

Full Abstract

BACKGROUND: The epididymal epithelium secretes membranous vesicles, called epididymosomes, with which a complex mixture of proteins is associated. These vesicles transfer to spermatozoa selected proteins involved in sperm maturation. Epididymosomes in the human excurrent duct have been described, but their protein composition and possible functions are unknown. METHODS AND RESULTS: Epididymosomes were collected during vasovasostomy procedures, purified and submitted to liquid chromatography with hybrid quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry. From all the mass spectra generated, 1022 peptides allowed the identification of 146 different proteins. Identification of some of these proteins was confirmed by western blots. Furthermore, western blot showed that the protein composition of epididymosomes differed from that characterizing prostasomes; membranous vesicles secreted by the prostate. Organization of the epididymosomes proteome according to common functional features suggests that epididymosomes have multiple functions. In order to understand the origin of epididymosomes collected distally, microarray databases of caput, corpus and cauda epididymidis were analysed to determine where along the excurrent duct the encoded proteins associated to epididymosomes are synthesised. Results suggest that some proteins synthesized in the caput and corpus epididymidis are associated with epididymosomes collected distally. CONCLUSIONS: Epididymosomes thus transit along the excurrent duct, and vesicles collected distally represent a mixed population.

Author information

Author/s: Thimon, Véronique (V); Frenette, Gilles (G); Saez, Fabrice (F); Thabet, Michel (M); Sullivan, Robert (R);

Affiliation: Centre de Recherche en Biologie de la Reproduction and Département d'Obstétrique-Gynécologie, Université Laval, Quebec City, Quebec, Canada.

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

Journal: Human reproduction (Oxford, England) (Hum Reprod), published in England. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2008-Aug; vol 23 (issue 8) : pp 1698-707

Dates: Created 2008/07/18; Completed 2008/09/29;

PMID: 18482993, status: MEDLINE (last retrieved date: 2/18/2009)

Sourced from the National Library of Medicine. Abstract text and other information may be subject to copyright.

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MeSH headings (categories)

This article was linked to the MeSH Headings (categories) shown below.

Cytoplasmic Vesicles - chemistry Epididymis - chemistry; cytology Genomics Humans

Male Proteins - analysis Proteomics Vasovasostomy

Note: Bold headings indicate primary MeSH headings or qualifiers.

Associated Chemicals: Proteins (0)

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