Oviduct histochemistry and site of synthesis of a 29.7 kDa jelly coat glycoprotein in the anuran Lepidobatrachus laevis

In the starfish, spermatozoa undergo the acrosome reaction upon encountering the jelly coat of eggs. A highly sulphated glycoprotein in the jelly coat is called acrosome-reaction-inducing substance (ARIS) because it is the key signal molecule to trigger the acrosome reaction. The activity of ARIS is mainly attributed to its sulphate and saccharide residues. The extremely large molecular size and speciesspecific action of ARIS suggest the presence of a specific ARIS receptor on the sperm surface, but no experimental evidence for the receptor has been presented. We therefore measured specific binding of ARIS and its pronase digest (P-ARIS), which retains the full activity of ARIS, to homologous spermatozoa by using fluorescien-isothiocyanate-labelled ARIS and125 I-labelled P-ARIS, respectively. The spermatozoa had the ability to bind ARIS, as well as P-ARIS, specifically. The binding was species-specific, and mostly localised to the head region of spermatozoa. Scatchard plot analysis indicated the presence of one class of ARIS receptor on the surface of acrosome-intact speramatozoa. Furthermore, the specific binding of P-ARIS to the anterior region of sperm heads was microscopically confirmed by using P-ARIS conjugated to polystyrene latex beads with intense fluorescence. It is concluded that starfish spermatozoa have a specific receptor for ARIS on the surface of the anterior region of heads.

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Primary Structure of Acidic Oligosaccharide-alditols Derived from the Jelly Coat of Ambystoma tigrinum. Occurrence of Oligosaccharides with Fucosyl(alpha1-5)[Fucosyl(alpha1-4)]-3-Deoxy-d-Glycero -d-Galacto -Nonulosonic Acid and Fucosyl (alpha1-2) Galactosyl (alpha1-3)-N -Acetylgalactosamine Sequences

European Journal of Biochemistry ◽

10.1111/j.1432-1033.1995.0146i.x ◽

1995 ◽

Vol 230 (1) ◽

pp. 146-156 ◽

Cited By ~ 14

Author(s):

Emmanuel Maes ◽

Yves Plancke ◽

Florence Delplace ◽

Gerard Strecker

Keyword(s):

Primary Structure ◽

Ambystoma Tigrinum ◽

Jelly Coat ◽

Nonulosonic Acid

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2,4-D Butoxyethyl Ester Kinetics in Embryos of Xenopus laevis: The Role of the Embryonic Jelly Coat in Reducing Chemical Absorption

Archives of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology ◽

10.1007/s00244-005-0215-4 ◽

2006 ◽

Vol 52 (1) ◽

pp. 113-120 ◽

Cited By ~ 23

Author(s):

Andrea N. Edginton ◽

Claude Rouleau ◽

Gerald R. Stephenson ◽

Herman J. Boermans

Keyword(s):

Xenopus Laevis ◽

Chemical Absorption ◽

Jelly Coat

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Kinetics of Fertilization in the Sea Urchin: A Comparison of Methods

Journal of Experimental Biology ◽

10.1242/jeb.52.2.455 ◽

1970 ◽

Vol 52 (2) ◽

pp. 455-468

Author(s):

R. PRESLEY ◽

P. F. BAKER

Keyword(s):

Sea Urchin ◽

Uranyl Nitrate ◽

Sea Water ◽

Fertilization Rate ◽

The Other ◽

Jelly Coat ◽

Cortical Responses ◽

Direct Counting ◽

Further Development ◽

Kinetics Of

1. A method is described for the direct counting of male pronuclei in recently fertilized sea-urchin eggs. 2. Using this method, fertilization rate determinations were made to compare 30% artificial sea water (A.S.W.), isotonic KCl, sea water containing lauryl sulphate, calcium-free and magnesium-free A.S.W. containing EDTA, and sea water containing uranyl nitrate, as agents blocking fertilization but permitting further development of previously fertilized eggs. 3. 30% A.S.W. was found to be less satisfactory than the other agents, lacking instant effect, and tending to promote polyspermy. The other agents all gave sigmoid rate curves, that of uranyl nitrate lagging 15-25 sec. behind the others. 4. Evidence was found that uranyl nitrate acts at a later stage in fertilization than the other agents. 5. Sigmoid rate curves were found, except with 30% A.S.W., when eggs with the bulk of the jelly coat removed, and nicotine-treated eggs, were fertilized. 6. Analysis of sperm distribution among eggs from samples fertilized for more than 40 sec. confirmed that re-fertilization takes place at a lower rate than primary fertilization. 7. The processes blocked by KCl and uranyl nitrate were found to precede the cortical responses to fertilization, and the termination of nicotine sensitivity.

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