Gonococcal lipooligosaccharide is a ligand for the asialoglycoprotein receptor on human sperm

In the present study, we show that Neisseria gonorrhoeae lipooligosaccharid e (LOS) can bind to the asialoglycoprotein receptor (ASGP-R) on human sperm . This work demonstrates the presence of ASGP-R on human sperm. Binding of purified ASGP-R ligand decreased in the presence of gonococci. Binding of p urified iodinated gonococcal LOS identified a protein of molecular weight c orresponding to that of human ASGP-R. The presence of excess unlabelled LOS blocked binding of iodinated gonococcal LOS. Binding of wild-type gonococc al LOS to sperm was higher than that of mutant LOS lacking the galactose li gand for ASGP-R. These data suggest that the ASGP-R on human sperm cells re cognizes and binds wild-type gonococcal LOS. This interaction may contribut e to the transmission of gonorrhea from infected males to their sexual part ners.