Mutation of a conserved hydrophobic patch prevents incorporation of ZP3 into the zona pellucida surrounding mouse eggs.

Abstract

Three glycoproteins (ZP1, ZP2, and ZP3) are synthesized in growing mouse oocytes and secreted to form an extracellular zona pellucida that mediates sperm binding and fertilization. Each has a signal peptide to direct it into a secretory pathway, a "zona" domain implicated in matrix polymerization and a transmembrane domain from which the ectodomain must be released. Using confocal microscopy and enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP), the intracellular trafficking of ZP3 was observed in growing mouse oocytes. Replacement of the zona domain with EGFP did not prevent secretion of ZP3, suggesting the presence of trafficking signals and a cleavage site in the carboxyl terminus. Analysis of linker-scanning mutations of a ZP3-EGFP fusion protein in transient assays and in transgenic mice identified an eight-amino-acid hydrophobic region required for secretion and incorporation into the zona pellucida. The hydrophobic patch is conserved among mouse zona proteins and lies between a potential proprotein convertase (furin) cleavage site and the transmembrane domain. The cleavage site that releases the ectodomain from the transmembrane domain was defined by mass spectrometry of native zonae pellucidae and lies N-terminal to a proprotein convertase site that is distinct from the hydrophobic patch.

• Authors: Ming Zhao, Lyn Gold, Heidi Dorward, Li-fang Liang, Tanya Hoodbhoy, Emily Boja, Henry M Fales, Jurrien Dean
• Journal: Molecular and cellular biology (Mol Cell Biol) Vol. 23 Issue 24 Pg. 8982-91 (Dec 2003) ISSN: 0270-7306 [Print] United States
• PMID: 14645511 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Egg Proteins
• Luminescent Proteins
• Membrane Glycoproteins
• Protein Sorting Signals
• Receptors, Cell Surface
• Recombinant Fusion Proteins
• Zona Pellucida Glycoproteins
• Zp1 protein, mouse
• Zp2 protein, mouse
• Zp3 protein, mouse
• Green Fluorescent Proteins

Topics

• Amino Acid Sequence
• Animals
• Base Sequence
• Conserved Sequence
• Egg Proteins (chemistry, genetics, metabolism)
• Female
• Green Fluorescent Proteins
• Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Interactions
• In Vitro Techniques
• Luminescent Proteins (chemistry, genetics, metabolism)
• Membrane Glycoproteins (chemistry, genetics, metabolism)
• Mice
• Mice, Transgenic
• Molecular Sequence Data
• Mutation
• Oogenesis
• Protein Sorting Signals (genetics)
• Protein Structure, Tertiary
• Receptors, Cell Surface
• Recombinant Fusion Proteins (chemistry, genetics, metabolism)
• Zona Pellucida (metabolism)
• Zona Pellucida Glycoproteins