scholarly journals ZP3-dependent activation of sperm cation channels regulates acrosomal secretion during mammalian fertilization.

1996 ◽  
Vol 134 (3) ◽  
pp. 637-645 ◽  
Author(s):  
C Arnoult ◽  
Y Zeng ◽  
H M Florman
Keyword(s):  
Membrane Potential ◽  
Pertussis Toxin ◽  
Zona Pellucida ◽  
Mammalian Sperm ◽  
Transient Rise ◽  
Transduction Mechanisms ◽  
Dependent Signal ◽  
Sperm Membrane ◽  
Mammalian Fertilization

The sperm acrosome reaction is a Ca(2+)-dependent secretory event required for fertilization. Adhesion to the egg's zona pellucida promotes Ca2+ influx through voltage-sensitive channels, thereby initiating secretion. We used potentiometric fluorescent probes to determine the role of sperm membrane potential in regulating Ca2+ entry. ZP3, the glycoprotein agonist of the zona pellucida, depolarizes sperm membranes by activating a pertussis toxin-insensitive mechanism with the characteristics of a poorly selective cation channel. ZP3 also activates a pertussis toxin-sensitive pathway that produces a transient rise in internal pH. The concerted effects of depolarization and alkalinization open voltage-sensitive Ca2+ channels. These observations suggest that mammalian sperm utilize membrane potential-dependent signal transduction mechanisms and that a depolarization pathway is an upstream transducing element coupling adhesion to secretion during fertilization.

scholarly journals The sperm protein SPACA4 is required for efficient fertilization in mice

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sarah Herberg ◽  
Yoshitaka Fujihara ◽  
Andreas Blaha ◽  
Karin Panser ◽  
Kiyonari Kobayashi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Zona Pellucida ◽  
Knockout Mice ◽  
Mammalian Species ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
Sperm Protein ◽  
Mammalian Sperm ◽  
Fundamental Process ◽  
Mammalian Fertilization

Fertilization is the fundamental process that initiates the development of a new individual in all sexually reproducing species. Despite its importance, our understanding of the molecular players that govern mammalian sperm-egg interaction is incomplete, partly because many of the essential factors found in non-mammalian species do not have obvious mammalian homologs. We have recently identified the Ly6/uPAR protein Bouncer as a new, essential fertilization factor in zebrafish (Herberg et al., 2018). Here, we show that Bouncer's homolog in mammals, SPACA4, is also required for efficient fertilization in mice. In contrast to fish, where Bouncer is expressed specifically in the egg, SPACA4 is expressed exclusively in the testis. Male knockout mice are severely sub-fertile, and sperm lacking SPACA4 fail to fertilize wild-type eggs in vitro. Interestingly, removal of the zona pellucida rescues the fertilization defect of Spaca4-deficient sperm in vitro, indicating that SPACA4 is not required for the interaction of sperm and the oolemma but rather of sperm and zona pellucida. Our work identifies SPACA4 as an important sperm protein necessary for zona pellucida penetration during mammalian fertilization.

scholarly journals TMEM95 is a sperm membrane protein essential for mammalian fertilization

eLife ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ismael Lamas-Toranzo ◽  
Julieta G Hamze ◽  
Enrica Bianchi ◽  
Beatriz Fernández-Fuertes ◽  
Serafín Pérez-Cerezales ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Membrane Protein ◽  
Membrane Fusion ◽  
Zona Pellucida ◽  
Sperm Protein ◽  
Egg Protein ◽  
Egg Membrane ◽  
Sperm Membrane ◽  
Mammalian Fertilization ◽  
Male Specific ◽  
Mechanical Injection

The fusion of gamete membranes during fertilization is an essential process for sexual reproduction. Despite its importance, only three proteins are known to be indispensable for sperm-egg membrane fusion: the sperm proteins IZUMO1 and SPACA6, and the egg protein JUNO. Here we demonstrate that another sperm protein, TMEM95, is necessary for sperm-egg interaction. TMEM95 ablation in mice caused complete male-specific infertility. Sperm lacking this protein were morphologically normal exhibited normal motility, and could penetrate the zona pellucida and bind to the oolemma. However, once bound to the oolemma, TMEM95-deficient sperm were unable to fuse with the egg membrane or penetrate into the ooplasm, and fertilization could only be achieved by mechanical injection of one sperm into the ooplasm, thereby bypassing membrane fusion. These data demonstrate that TMEM95 is essential for mammalian fertilization.

The Role of Platelet Membrane Potential in the Initiation of Platelet Aggregation

1982 ◽  
Vol 47 (01) ◽  
pp. 022-026 ◽  
Author(s):  
D E MacIntyre ◽  
T J Rink
Keyword(s):  
Membrane Potential ◽  
Platelet Aggregation ◽  
Human Platelets ◽  
Null Point ◽  
Platelet Membrane ◽  
Resting Potential ◽  
Permselective Membrane ◽  
High K ◽  
Transduction Mechanisms

SummaryThe membrane potential of human platelets, and the role of this potential in platelet aggregation, was assessed using the non-covalent, fluorescent probe DiS-C3-5. High K+ and Gramicidin depolarised the cells, whereas valinomycin in standard (4 mMK+) solution produced a hyperpolarisation. Very small changes in potential were observed when choline Cl replaced NaCl. These findings indicate that platelets possess a relatively K+-permselective membrane. The resting potential calculated from the “valinomycin null point” (the K+ concentration gradient at which valinomycin did not change the potential) was approximately – 60 mV. Other factors that contribute to the platelet membrane potential include a significant Cl− permeability, demonstrated by replacing Cl− with methylsulphate, and an electrogenic Na+ pump, demonstrated using strophanthidin. Little or no change in potential was observed upon addition of ADP, collagen, U44069 or thrombin. Neither strong depolarisation with high K+ or gramicidin nor hyperpolarisation with valinomycin induced platelet aggregation or altered platelet responses to agonists. It is concluded that the information transduction mechanisms involved in platelet activation do not include changes in platelet membrane potential.

The polysulphate binding domain of human proacrosin/acrosin is involved in both the enzyme activation and spermatozoa-zona pellucida interaction

Zygote ◽  
1998 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 75-83 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. D. Moreno ◽  
M. S. Sepúlveda ◽  
A. de Ioannes ◽  
C. Barros
Keyword(s):  
Zona Pellucida ◽  
Active Site ◽  
Enzyme Activation ◽  
Binding Domain ◽  
Present Evidence ◽  
Sperm Binding ◽  
Mammalian Sperm ◽  
Hydrolysis Of

SummaryMammalian acrosin is a protease present as a zymogen in the acrosome of a non-reacted mammalian sperm, and in vitro is able to carry out limited hydrolysis of homologous and heterologous zonae pellucidae. On the other hand, sulphated polymers and zona pellcida glycoproteins bind to acrosin on a domain different from the active site, named the polysulphate binding domain (PSBD). Thus it is believed that acrosome-reacted spermatozoa bind to glycan chains of the zona pellucida through PSBD participating as secondary binding receptor. The aim of the present work was to study the role of PSBD during both human gamete interaction and acrosin activation. In this work we present evidence that the anti-human acrosin monoclonal antibody C5F10 is directed to an epitope located on or near the PSBD on human proacrosin/acrosin. Moreover, we show that this antibody is able to inhibit both proacrosin activation induced by fucoidan and the sperm binding to the zona pellucida. Our results suggest that the same PSBD is involved in both sperm secondary binding, during zona pellucida penetration, and proacrosin activation.

scholarly journals The conserved fertility factor SPACA4/Bouncer has divergent modes of action in vertebrate fertilization

2021 ◽  
Vol 118 (39) ◽  
pp. e2108777118
Author(s):  
Yoshitaka Fujihara ◽  
Sarah Herberg ◽  
Andreas Blaha ◽  
Karin Panser ◽  
Kiyonori Kobayashi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Zona Pellucida ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
Sperm Protein ◽  
Mammalian Sperm ◽  
Type Plasminogen Activator ◽  
Urokinase Type Plasminogen Activator ◽  
Fundamental Process ◽  
Mammalian Fertilization ◽  
Plasminogen Activator Receptor

Fertilization is the fundamental process that initiates the development of a new individual in all sexually reproducing species. Despite its importance, our understanding of the molecular players that govern mammalian sperm–egg interaction is incomplete, partly because many of the essential factors found in nonmammalian species do not have obvious mammalian homologs. We have recently identified the lymphocyte antigen-6 (Ly6)/urokinase-type plasminogen activator receptor (uPAR) protein Bouncer as an essential fertilization factor in zebrafish [S. Herberg, K. R. Gert, A. Schleiffer, A. Pauli, Science 361, 1029–1033 (2018)]. Here, we show that Bouncer’s homolog in mammals, Sperm Acrosome Associated 4 (SPACA4), is also required for efficient fertilization in mice. In contrast to fish, in which Bouncer is expressed specifically in the egg, SPACA4 is expressed exclusively in the sperm. Male knockout mice are severely subfertile, and sperm lacking SPACA4 fail to fertilize wild-type eggs in vitro. Interestingly, removal of the zona pellucida rescues the fertilization defect of Spaca4-deficient sperm in vitro, indicating that SPACA4 is not required for the interaction of sperm and the oolemma but rather of sperm and the zona pellucida. Our work identifies SPACA4 as an important sperm protein necessary for zona pellucida penetration during mammalian fertilization.

scholarly journals Intracellular Na+ Modulates Pacemaking Activity in Murine Sinoatrial Node Myocytes: An In Silico Analysis

2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (11) ◽  
pp. 5645
Author(s):  
Stefano Morotti ◽  
Haibo Ni ◽  
Colin H. Peters ◽  
Christian Rickert ◽  
Ameneh Asgari-Targhi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Heart Failure ◽  
Membrane Potential ◽  
In Silico ◽  
Sinoatrial Node ◽  
In Silico Analysis ◽  
Ankyrin B ◽  
Deficient Mice ◽  
Silico Analysis ◽  
Bursting Activity

Background: The mechanisms underlying dysfunction in the sinoatrial node (SAN), the heart’s primary pacemaker, are incompletely understood. Electrical and Ca2+-handling remodeling have been implicated in SAN dysfunction associated with heart failure, aging, and diabetes. Cardiomyocyte [Na+]i is also elevated in these diseases, where it contributes to arrhythmogenesis. Here, we sought to investigate the largely unexplored role of Na+ homeostasis in SAN pacemaking and test whether [Na+]i dysregulation may contribute to SAN dysfunction. Methods: We developed a dataset-specific computational model of the murine SAN myocyte and simulated alterations in the major processes of Na+ entry (Na+/Ca2+ exchanger, NCX) and removal (Na+/K+ ATPase, NKA). Results: We found that changes in intracellular Na+ homeostatic processes dynamically regulate SAN electrophysiology. Mild reductions in NKA and NCX function increase myocyte firing rate, whereas a stronger reduction causes bursting activity and loss of automaticity. These pathologic phenotypes mimic those observed experimentally in NCX- and ankyrin-B-deficient mice due to altered feedback between the Ca2+ and membrane potential clocks underlying SAN firing. Conclusions: Our study generates new testable predictions and insight linking Na+ homeostasis to Ca2+ handling and membrane potential dynamics in SAN myocytes that may advance our understanding of SAN (dys)function.

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