Sperm receptors and fertilization in mammals.

Abstract

During fertilization in mammals, sperm must first bind in a species-specific manner to the egg s thick extracellular coat, the zona pellucida. They then undergo a form of cellular exocytosis, the acrosome reaction. ZP3, one of three zona pellucida glycoproteins, serves as a structural glycoprotein, a sperm receptor, and an acrosome reaction-inducer. The latter two functions are mediated, at least in part, by ZP3 oligosaccharides. ZP3 is unique to mammalian eggs, from mice to humans, although related glycoproteins are found in vitelline envelopes of virtually all non- mammalian eggs, from fish to birds. Furthermore, the "zona domain" of zona pellucida glycoproteins, a characteristic ~260 amino acid-long region, is present in many (glyco)proteins with various functions in both vertebrates and invertebrates. It is tempting to suggest that egg- coat glycoproteins have evolved from solely structural components of certain non-mammalian egg vitelline envelopes into sperm receptors and acrosome reaction-inducers of the mammalian egg zona pellucida.

• Authors: Paul M Wassarman
• Journal: The Mount Sinai journal of medicine, New York (Mt Sinai J Med) Vol. 69 Issue 3 Pg. 148-55 (May 2002) ISSN: 0027-2507 [Print] United States
• PMID: 12035074 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S., Review)

Chemical References

• Egg Proteins
• Glycoproteins
• Membrane Glycoproteins
• Receptors, Cell Surface
• ZP3 protein, human
• Zona Pellucida Glycoproteins
• Zp3 protein, mouse

Topics

• Acrosome Reaction (physiology)
• Animals
• Egg Proteins (physiology)
• Female
• Fertilization
• Glycoproteins (physiology)
• Male
• Membrane Glycoproteins (physiology)
• Mice
• Ovum (physiology)
• Receptors, Cell Surface (physiology)
• Sperm-Ovum Interactions (physiology)
• Spermatozoa (physiology)
• Zona Pellucida Glycoproteins