Language
English
Publication Date
11-12-2025
Journal
eLife
DOI
10.7554/eLife.107494
PMID
41222000
PMCID
PMC12611266
PubMedCentral® Posted Date
11-12-2025
PubMedCentral® Full Text Version
Post-print
Abstract
Despite the recognized importance of glycans in biological phenomena, their complex roles in spermatogenesis and sperm function remain unclear. SLC35G3, a 10-transmembrane protein specifically found in early round spermatids, belongs to the sugar-nucleotide transporter family, indicating its involvement in glycan formation. In this study, we found that Slc35g3 knockout male mice were sterile due to impaired sperm functions in uterotubal junction passage, zona pellucida binding, and oocyte fusion. Mouse SLC35G3 has UDP-GlcNAc transporter activity, and its ablation caused abnormal processing of the sperm plasma membrane and acrosome membrane proteins. Reported human SLC35G3 mutations (F267L and T179HfsTer27) diminished the UDP-GlcNAc transporter activity of SLC35G3, implying infertility risks in males carrying these mutations. Our findings unveil the vital roles of SLC35G3 in the glycan formation of sperm membrane proteins critical for sperm-fertilizing ability.
Keywords
Animals, Male, Mice, Mice, Knockout, Spermatozoa, Glycoproteins, Fertility, Female, Infertility, Male, Nucleotide Transport Proteins
Published Open-Access
yes
Recommended Citation
Mashiko, Daisuke; Tonai, Shingo; Miyata, Haruhiko; et al., "SLC35G3 Is a UDP-N-Acetylglucosamine Transporter for Sperm Glycoprotein Formation and Underpins Male Fertility in Mice" (2025). Faculty and Staff Publications. 5137.
https://digitalcommons.library.tmc.edu/baylor_docs/5137
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