Oxidation of Glyceraldehyde-3-Phosphate Dehydrogenase Decreases Sperm Motility

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Yu. L. Elkina¹, M. M. Atroshchenko², E. E. Bragina¹, V. I. Muronetz¹, and E. V. Schmalhausen^1*

¹Belozersky Institute of Physico-Chemical Biology, Lomonosov Moscow State University, 119991 Moscow, Russia; fax: (495) 939-3181; E-mail: shmal@belozersky.msu.ru

²Scientific Research Institute of Horse Breeding, Russian Academy of Agricultural Sciences, 391105 Divovo, Ryazan Region, Russia; fax: (4912) 24-0265; E-mail: vniik08@mail.ru

^* To whom correspondence should be addressed.

Received October 20, 2010; Revision received November 18, 2010

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The relation between the activity of the sperm-specific glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDS) and the motility of sperms was investigated. It was found that the mean value of GAPDS activity in sperm samples with low motility is 2.5-3-fold lower than that in samples with high motility. Sperm motility was shown to diminish in the presence of superoxide anion, hydroxyl radical, and hydrogen peroxide. The decrease in sperm motility in the presence of hydrogen peroxide was proportional to the concentration of the oxidant and correlated with the decrease in GAPDS activity (r = 0.96). Based on the literature data on the importance of GAPDS for the motility of sperms together with the presented observations, it was concluded that the decrease in the sperm motility in the presence of reactive oxygen species is due to the oxidation of GAPDS and inhibition of glycolysis.

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KEY WORDS: glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase, motility, oxidation, reactive oxygen species, spermatozoa

DOI: 10.1134/S0006297911020143

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