scholarly journals Studies on Mouse Sperm Binding Molecule (Ligand) to Egg Zona Pellucida. II. Purification of Ligand Molecule from Cauda Epididymal Sperm.

1991 ◽  
Vol 14 (5) ◽  
pp. 237-243 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yuichi KAWAI ◽  
Kaori FUNAKOSHI ◽  
Takao HAMA ◽  
Tadanori MAYUMI
1985 ◽  
Vol 101 (4) ◽  
pp. 1501-1510 ◽  
Author(s):  
L C Lopez ◽  
E M Bayna ◽  
D Litoff ◽  
N L Shaper ◽  
J H Shaper ◽  
...  

Past studies from this laboratory have suggested that mouse sperm binding to the egg zona pellucida is mediated by a sperm galactosyltransferase (GalTase), which recognizes and binds to terminal N-acetylglucosamine (GlcNAc) residues in the zona pellucida (Shur, B. D., and N. G. Hall, 1982, J. Cell Biol. 95:567-573; 95:574-579). We now present evidence that directly supports this mechanism for gamete binding. GalTase was purified to homogeneity by sequential affinity-chromatography on GlcNAc-agarose and alpha-lactalbumin-agarose columns. The purified enzyme produced a dose-dependent inhibition of sperm binding to the zona pellucida, relative to controls. To inhibit sperm/zona binding, GalTase had to retain its native conformation, since neither heat-inactivated nor Mn++-deficient GalTase inhibited sperm binding. GalTase inhibition of sperm/zona binding was not due to steric blocking of an adjacent sperm receptor on the zona, since GalTase could be released from the zona pellucida by forced galactosylation with UDPGal, and the resulting galactosylated zona was still incapable of binding sperm. In control experiments, when UDPGal was replaced with the inappropriate sugar nucleotide, UDPglucose, sperm binding to the zona pellucida remained normal after the adsorbed GalTase was washed away. The addition of UDPGal produced a dose-dependent inhibition of sperm/zona binding, and also dissociated preformed sperm/zona adhesions by catalyzing the release of the sperm GalTase from its GlcNAc substrate in the zona pellucida. Under identical conditions, UDP-glucose had no effect on sperm binding to the zona pellucida. The ability of UDPGal to dissociate sperm/zona adhesions was both time- and temperature-dependent. UDPGal produced nearly total inhibition of sperm/zona binding when the zonae pellucidae were first galactosylated to reduce the number of GalTase binding sites. Finally, monospecific anti-GalTase IgG and its Fab fragments produced a dose-dependent inhibition of sperm/zona binding and concomitantly blocked sperm GalTase catalytic activity. Preimmune IgG or anti-mouse brain IgG, which also binds to the sperm surface, had no effect. The sperm GalTase was localized by indirect immunofluorescence to a discrete plasma membrane domain on the dorsal surface of the anterior head overlying the intact acrosome. These results, along with earlier studies, show clearly that sperm GalTase serves as a principal gamete receptor during fertilization.


1989 ◽  
Vol 92 (4) ◽  
pp. 713-722
Author(s):  
M.H. Vazquez ◽  
D.M. Phillips ◽  
P.M. Wassarman

We describe a solid-phase assay that has permitted further analysis of zona pellucida glycoprotein, ZP3, as sperm receptor and acrosome reaction-inducer during fertilization in mice. The assay employs silica beads that contain epoxy groups to which purified, mouse oocyte ZP3 is covalently linked (ZP3-beads). ZP3-beads were characterized, e.g. by whole-mount autoradiography and flow cytofluorometry, incubated with capacitated mouse sperm under a variety of conditions, and the extent of sperm binding determined by light microscopy. Results of experiments presented suggest the following: (1) sperm bind specifically to ZP3-beads, but not to silica beads either exposed to 2-aminoethanol or derivatized with oocyte ZP2, fetuin or bovine serum albumin. (2) In nearly all cases, only one sperm binds per ZP3-bead and binding occurs via the sperm head. (3) The extent of sperm binding to ZP3-beads is dependent on ZP3 and sperm concentrations, as well as on incubation time and temperature. (4) Sperm binding to ZP3-beads is unaffected by antibodies directed against ZP3, but is inhibited in a reversible manner by treatment of ZP3-beads with galactose oxidase. (5) Only acrosome-intact sperm bind to ZP3-beads but, once bound, sperm can undergo the acrosome reaction, which results in their release from ZP3-beads. (6) Islet-activating protein and 3-quinuclidinyl benzilate, two inhibitors of the zona pellucida-induced acrosome reaction, prevent sperm bound to ZP3-beads from undergoing the acrosome reaction. These results confirm and extend previous studies of sperm-egg interaction in mice, and suggest that the solid-phase assay will be useful for both cellular and biochemical analyses of mammalian fertilization.


1982 ◽  
Vol 95 (2) ◽  
pp. 574-579 ◽  
Author(s):  
B D Shur ◽  
N G Hall

Past studies have suggested that mouse sperm surface galactosyltransferase may participate during fertilization by binding N-acetylglucosamine (GlcNAc) residues in the zona pellucida. In this paper, we examined further the role of sperm surface galactosyltransferase in mouse fertilization. Two reagents that specifically perturb sperm surface galactosyltransferase activity both inhibit sperm-zona binding. The presence of the milk protein alpha-lactalbumin specifically modifies the substrate specificity of sperm galactosyltransferase away from GlcNAc and towards glucose and simultaneously inhibits sperm binding to the zona pellucida. Similarly, UDP-dialdehyde inhibits sperm binding to the zona pellucida and sperm surface galactosyl-transferase activity to identical degrees. Of five other sperm enzymes assayed, four are unaffected by UDP-dialdehyde, and one is affected only slightly. Covalent linkage of UDP-dialdehyde to sperm dramatically inhibits binding to eggs, while treatment of eggs with UDP-dialdehyde has no effect on sperm binding. Heat-solubilized or pronase-digested zona pellucida inhibit sperm-zona binding, and they can be glycosylated by sperm with UDP-galactose. Sperm are also able to glycosylate intact zona pellucida with UDP-galactose. Thus, solubilized and intact zona pellucida act as substrates for sperm surface GlcNAc:galactosyltransferases. Finally, pretreatment of eggs with beta-N-acetylglucosaminidase inhibits sperm binding by up to 86%, while under identical conditions, pretreatment with beta-galactosidase increases sperm binding by 55%. These studies, in conjunction with those of the preceding paper dealing with surface galactosyltransferase changes during capacitation, directly suggest that galactosyltransferase is at least one of the components necessary for sperm binding to the zona pellucida.


2012 ◽  
Vol 197 (1) ◽  
pp. 37-44 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anna D. Burkart ◽  
Bo Xiong ◽  
Boris Baibakov ◽  
Maria Jiménez-Movilla ◽  
Jurrien Dean

The mouse zona pellucida is composed of three glycoproteins (ZP1, ZP2, and ZP3), of which ZP2 is proteolytically cleaved after gamete fusion to prevent polyspermy. This cleavage is associated with exocytosis of cortical granules that are peripherally located subcellular organelles unique to ovulated eggs. Based on the cleavage site of ZP2, ovastacin was selected as a candidate protease. Encoded by the single-copy Astl gene, ovastacin is an oocyte-specific member of the astacin family of metalloendoproteases. Using specific antiserum, ovastacin was detected in cortical granules before, but not after, fertilization. Recombinant ovastacin cleaved ZP2 in native zonae pellucidae, documenting that ZP2 was a direct substrate of this metalloendoprotease. Female mice lacking ovastacin did not cleave ZP2 after fertilization, and mouse sperm bound as well to Astl-null two-cell embryos as they did to normal eggs. Ovastacin is a pioneer component of mouse cortical granules and plays a definitive role in the postfertilization block to sperm binding that ensures monospermic fertilization and successful development.


1982 ◽  
Vol 219 (2) ◽  
pp. 155-161 ◽  
Author(s):  
Linda J. Heffner ◽  
Bayard T. Storey

Reproduction ◽  
2000 ◽  
pp. 15-23 ◽  
Author(s):  
K Jewgenow ◽  
M Rohleder ◽  
I Wegner

Despite many efforts, the control of reproduction in feral cat populations is still a problem in urban regions around the world. Immunocontraception is a promising approach; thus the present study examined the suitability of the widely used pig zona pellucida proteins (pZP) for contraception in feral domestic cats. Purified zona pellucida proteins obtained from pig and cat ovaries were used to produce highly specific antisera in rabbits. Antibodies against pZP raised in rabbits or lions were not effective inhibitors of either in vitro sperm binding (cat spermatozoa to cat oocytes) or in vitro fertilization in cats, whereas antibodies against feline zona pellucida proteins (fZP) raised in rabbits showed a dose-dependent inhibition of in vitro fertilization. Immunoelectrophoresis, ELISA and immunohistology of ovaries confirmed these results, showing crossreactivity of anti-fZP sera to fZP and to a lesser extent to pZP, but no interaction of anti-pZP sera with fZP. It is concluded that cat and pig zonae pellucidae express a very small number of shared antigenic determinants, making the use of pZP vaccine in cats questionable. A contraceptive vaccine based on feline zona pellucida determinants will be a better choice for the control of reproduction in feral cats if immunogenity can be achieved.


2012 ◽  
Vol 87 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Olivier D'Amours ◽  
Gilles Frenette ◽  
Louis-Jean Bordeleau ◽  
Nancy Allard ◽  
Pierre Leclerc ◽  
...  

2002 ◽  
Vol 66 (1) ◽  
pp. 65-69 ◽  
Author(s):  
Catherine D. Thaler ◽  
Richard A. Cardullo

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