scholarly journals MMP2 and acrosin are major proteinases associated with the inner acrosomal membrane and may cooperate in sperm penetration of the zona pellucida during fertilization

2012 ◽  
Vol 349 (3) ◽  
pp. 881-895 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marvin Ferrer ◽  
Hilma Rodriguez ◽  
Lindsay Zara ◽  
Yang Yu ◽  
Wei Xu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Zona Pellucida ◽  
Acrosomal Membrane ◽  
Sperm Penetration ◽  
Inner Acrosomal Membrane

Differential binding of gold-labeled zona pellucida glycoproteins mZP2 and mZP3 to mouse sperm membrane compartments

Development ◽  
1991 ◽  
Vol 113 (1) ◽  
pp. 141-149 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Mortillo ◽  
P.M. Wassarman
Keyword(s):  
Plasma Membrane ◽  
Zona Pellucida ◽  
Transmission Electron ◽  
Acrosomal Membrane ◽  
Membrane Compartments ◽  
Sperm Membrane ◽  
Differential Binding ◽  
Inner Acrosomal Membrane ◽  
Low Levels ◽  
Species Specific

Egg zona pellucida glycoproteins mZP3 and mZP2 serve as primary and secondary sperm receptors, respectively, during initial stages of fertilization in mice [Wassarman (1988) A. Rev. Biochem. 57, 415–442]. These receptors interact with complementary egg-binding proteins (EBPs) located on the sperm surface to support species-specific gamete adhesion. Results of whole-mount autoradiographic experiments suggest that purified egg mZP3 and mZP2 bind preferentially to acrosome-intact (AI) and acrosome-reacted (AR) sperm heads, respectively [Bleil and Wassarman (1986) J. Cell Biol. 102, 1363–1371]. Here, we used purified egg mZP2, egg mZP3 and fetuin, which were coupled directly to colloidal gold (‘gold-probes’), to examine binding of these glycoproteins to membrane compartments of AI and AR sperm by transmission electron microscopy. mZP3 gold-probes were found associated primarily with plasma membrane overlying the acrosomal and post-acrosomal regions of AI sperm heads. They were also found associated with plasma membrane overlying the post-acrosomal region of AR sperm heads. mZP2 gold-probes were found associated primarily with inner acrosomal membrane of AR sperm heads, although some gold was associated with outer acrosomal membrane of AI sperm that had holes in plasma membrane overlying the acrosome. Fetuin gold-probes, used to assess background levels of binding, were bound at relatively low levels to plasma membrane and inner acrosomal membrane of AI and AR sperm, respectively. None of the gold-probes exhibited significant binding to sperm tails, or to red blood cells and residual bodies present in sperm preparations. These results provide further evidence that mZP2 and mZP3 bind preferentially to heads of AR and AI sperm, respectively.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

scholarly journals Sperm arylsulfatase A binds to mZP2 and mZP3 glycoproteins in a nonenzymatic manner

Reproduction ◽  
2012 ◽  
Vol 144 (2) ◽  
pp. 209-219 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hongbin Xu ◽  
Fang Liu ◽  
Nopparat Srakaew ◽  
Chaitanya Koppisetty ◽  
Per-Georg Nyholm ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Active Site ◽  
Acrosome Reaction ◽  
Size Exclusion ◽  
Arylsulfatase A ◽  
Dot Blot ◽  
Active Site Pocket ◽  
Acrosomal Membrane ◽  
Sperm Penetration ◽  
Cross Linker ◽  
Inner Acrosomal Membrane

We have shown previously that sperm surface arylsulfatase A (ASA) of mouse, pig, and human is involved in sperm–egg zona pellucida (ZP) binding. By treating capacitated mouse sperm with A23187 to induce the acrosome reaction, we demonstrated by immunoblotting that ASA also existed in the acrosomal content and on the inner acrosomal membrane. Since mZP2 and mZP3 are known as sperm receptors, whereas mZP1 as a cross-linker of mZP2/mZP3, we determined whether purified ASA bound to mZP2 and mZP3 selectively. The three mZP glycoproteins were purified from solubilized ovarian ZP by size exclusion column chromatography. Immuno-dot blot analyses revealed that purified sperm ASA bound to mZP2 at the highest level followed by mZP3, whereas the binding of ASA to mZP1 was minimal. The results confirmed the physiological significance of sperm ASA in the ZP binding process. The binding of ASA to mZP2 and mZP3 was, however, not dependent on the active site pocket amino acids, Cys69, Lys123, and Lys302, which are pertinent to the capturing of an arylsulfate substrate, since ASA mutant with Ala substitution at these three residues still bound to mZP2 and mZP3. The availability of the active site pocket of ASA bound to the ZP suggested that ASA would still retain enzymatic activity, which might be important for subsequent sperm penetration through the ZP.

Identification of zona- and fucoidan-binding proteins in guinea-pig spermatozoa and mechanism of recognition

Development ◽  
1990 ◽  
Vol 109 (1) ◽  
pp. 41-50
Author(s):  
R. Jones ◽  
R.M. Williams
Keyword(s):  
Guinea Pig ◽  
Zona Pellucida ◽  
Binding Proteins ◽  
Sulphated Polysaccharides ◽  
Acrosomal Membrane ◽  
Sds Page ◽  
Molecular Masses ◽  
Low Mass ◽  
Inner Acrosomal Membrane ◽  
Mechanism Of Recognition

Binding of guinea-pig spermatozoa to the zona pellucida of homologous eggs has been reported to involve ‘receptors’ on the inner acrosomal membrane (Huang et al. 1981). These receptors can be blocked by sulphated polysaccharides such as fucoidan (Huang and Yanagimachi, 1984). The aims of the present investigation were to identify these putative zona receptors using 125I-fucoidan as a probe and examine their mechanism of recognition. Results show that 125I-fucoidan binds to several proteins extracted from guinea-pig spermatozoa with molecular masses of 95, 60, 48, 34, 30 and 18–20 × 10(3) (K) on SDS-PAGE. The 48K, 34K and 30K components represent proacrosin and two forms of acrosin, respectively. 125I-zona pellucida glycoproteins also bound strongly to the 48K, 34K and 30K sperm proteins. The other high and low mass binding proteins were not positively identified but cytochemical experiments with fluoresceinamine-fucoidan and FITC-soybean trypsin inhibitor indicate that they are intraacrosomal. The mechanism of binding of 125I-fucoidan to proacrosin/acrosin (and also the 95K, 60K and 18K-20K components) involves multiple sulphate groups on the polysaccharide in a specific orientation to allow them to interact with basic residues on the protein. It is suggested that guinea-pig spermatozoa retain sufficient proacrosin/acrosin bound to the inner acrosomal membrane after the acrosome reaction to mediate binding to the zona pellucida and that functionally proacrosin is analogous to sea urchin binding.

The histochemical localization of acrosin in guinea-pig sperm after the acrosome reaction

1978 ◽  
Vol 32 (1) ◽  
pp. 177-184
Author(s):  
D.P. Green ◽  
A.R. Hockaday
Keyword(s):  
Electron Microscopy ◽  
Guinea Pig ◽  
Acrosome Reaction ◽  
Sperm Head ◽  
Ultrastructural Evidence ◽  
Acrosomal Membrane ◽  
Sperm Penetration ◽  
Inner Acrosomal Membrane ◽  
Dense Marker

The protease acrosin is widely considered to be an essential component of a zona lysin which enables sperm to penetrate the zona pellucida of the egg. Sperm form a characteristic penetration slit little wider than the sperm head itself and this has long suggested that any zona lysin is attached to the sperm surface after an acrosome reaction. This paper provides the first ultrastructural evidence that this is the case. The protein acrosin inhibitor, Kunitz soybean trypsin inhibitor, has been covalently attached to the electron-dense marker, ferritin, and the conjugate incubated with guinea-pig sperm which have undergone an A23187-induced acrosome reaction. Electron microscopy shows that ferritin is distributed unevenly over the outer surface of the newly exposed inner acrosomal membrane but does not extend to the equatorial segment. This is further evidence that acrosin can be considered as a candidate for the role of zona lysin. The mechanism of sperm penetration of the zona is discussed in the light of these observations.

Oocyte maturation: aberrant post-fusion responses of the rabbit primary oocyte to penetrating spermatozoa

1979 ◽  
Vol 39 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-12
Author(s):  
M. Berrios ◽  
J.M. Bedford
Keyword(s):  
Anterior Part ◽  
Light And Electron Microscopy ◽  
Germinal Vesicle ◽  
Sperm Chromatin ◽  
Fallopian Tubes ◽  
Cortical Granules ◽  
Germinal Vesicle Breakdown ◽  
Acrosomal Membrane ◽  
Primary Oocyte ◽  
Inner Acrosomal Membrane

Primary oocytes cannot be fertilized normally; they begin to develop this capacity as meiosis resumes. To elucidate the changes involved in acquisition of their fertilizability, rabbit primary oocytes displaying a germinal vesicle (GV oocytes) were placed in Fallopian tubes inseminated previously with spermatozoa, recovered 2–5 h later and examined by light and electron microscopy. At least 4 aspects of GV oocyte/sperm interaction were abnormal. Although the vestments and oolemma seem normally receptive to spermatozoa, fusion with the oolemma of the primary oocyte did not elicit exocytosis of cortical granules, and consequently multiple entry of spermatozoa into the ooplasm was common. Secondly, the GV oocyte cortex failed to achieve a normal englufment of the anterior part of the sperm head. It sank into the ooplasm capped by only a small rostral vesicle or left the stable inner acrosomal membrane as a patch in the oolemma. Only rarely then was there significant dispersion of the sperm chromatin, and this remained surrounded by nuclear envelope. The persistence of this envelope constitutes a further aberrant feature, for it disappears immediately in secondary oocytes and was absent in primary oocytes in which germinal vesicle breakdown had occurred. The results are discussed with particular reference to current ideas about male pronucleus formation.

Fertilisation in the Rabbit

1932 ◽  
Vol 9 (4) ◽  
pp. 403-408
Author(s):  
G. PINCUS ◽  
E. V. ENZMANN
Keyword(s):  
Zona Pellucida ◽  
Critical Period ◽  
Polar Body ◽  
Follicle Cells ◽  
Fallopian Tubes ◽  
Sperm Penetration ◽  
Pass Through ◽  
Second Polar Body

The series of events occurring in the Fallopian tubes of rabbit does mated to fertile bucks may be summarised as follows: The ova liberated from the ovaries and surrounded by the follicle cells become massed together. Sperm penetrate the massed follicle cells, which fall away as the sperm pass through them. At from 1½-3 hours after ovulation the spermatozoa reach the egg. A number of spermatozoa pass through the zona pellucida, but only one, apparently, enters the egg. At the time of sperm penetration the egg shrinks slightly but definitely. The second polar body is given off 45 min. or longer after sperm penetration. The pronuclei are formed after the formation of the second polar body and, at the earliest, 3 hours after ovulation. The critical period for sperm penetration appears to occur at 2-3 hours after ovulation (cf. Pincus,1930).

scholarly journals Sperm Cohort-Specific Zinc Signature Acquisition and Capacitation-Induced Zinc Flux Regulate Sperm-Oviduct and Sperm-Zona Pellucida Interactions

2020 ◽  
Vol 21 (6) ◽  
pp. 2121 ◽  
Author(s):  
Karl Kerns ◽  
Momal Sharif ◽  
Michal Zigo ◽  
Wei Xu ◽  
Lauren E. Hamilton ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Zona Pellucida ◽  
Semen Analysis ◽  
Inhibitory Effect ◽  
26S Proteasome ◽  
Matrix Metalloproteinase 2 ◽  
Zinc Ions ◽  
New Paradigm ◽  
Male Factor ◽  
Sperm Penetration

Building on our recent discovery of the zinc signature phenomenon present in boar, bull, and human spermatozoa, we have further characterized the role of zinc ions in the spermatozoa’s pathway to fertilization. In boar, the zinc signature differed between the three major boar ejaculate fractions, the initial pre-rich, the sperm-rich, and the post-sperm-rich fraction. These differences set in the sperm ejaculatory sequence establish two major sperm cohorts with marked differences in their sperm capacitation progress. On the subcellular level, we show that the capacitation-induced Zn-ion efflux allows for sperm release from oviductal glycans as analyzed with the oviductal epithelium mimicking glycan binding assay. Sperm zinc efflux also activates zinc-containing enzymes and proteases involved in sperm penetration of the zona pellucida, such as the inner acrosomal membrane matrix metalloproteinase 2 (MMP2). Both MMP2 and the 26S proteasome showed severely reduced activity in the presence of zinc ions, through studies using by gel zymography and the fluorogenic substrates, respectively. In the context of the fertilization-induced oocyte zinc spark and the ensuing oocyte-issued polyspermy-blocking zinc shield, the inhibitory effect of zinc on sperm-borne enzymes may contribute to the fast block of polyspermy. Altogether, our findings establish a new paradigm on the role of zinc ions in sperm function and pave the way for the optimization of animal semen analysis, artificial insemination (AI), and human male-factor infertility diagnostics.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document