English (United Kingdom)

https://curated-unify.zendy.io/wp-json/zendy-region/v1/featured_content/oa?rat=en

https://curated-unify.zendy.io/wp-json/zendy-region/v1/highlighted_journal/

Global: Zendy Plus annual

Presents the access of premium content as premium feature

Premium Content

Presents the keyphrase highlighting as premium feature

Keyphrase Highlighting

Presents the summarisation as premium feature

Summarisation

Insights

Presents the pdf analysis as premium feature

PDF Analysis

Presents the zaia usage as premium feature

ZAIA

Global: Zendy Tools annual

Global: Zendy Free Plan

Global: Zendy Tools monthly

Global: Zendy Plus monthly

The egg is a spherical cell encapsulated by the zona pellucida (ZP) which forms a filamentous matrix composed of several glycoproteins that mediate gamete recognition at fertilization. Studies on molecular mechanisms of sperm-egg binding are limited in many mammalian species by the scarcity of eggs, by ethical concerns in harvesting eggs, and by the high cost of producing genetically modified animals. To address these limitations, we have reproduced a three-dimensional (3D) model mimicking the oocyte’s shape, by means of magnetic sepharose beads coated with recombinant ZP glycoproteins (B ZP ) and cumulus cells. Three preparations composed of either ZP2 (C and N-termini; B ZP2 ), ZP3 (B ZP3 ) or ZP4 (B ZP4 ) were obtained and characterized by protein SDS-PAGE, immunoblot and imaging with confocal and electron microscopy. The functionality of the model was validated by adhesion of cumulus cells, the ability of the glycoprotein-beads to support spermatozoa binding and induce acrosome exocytosis. Thus, our findings document that ZP-beads provide a novel 3D tool to investigate the role of specific proteins on egg-sperm interactions becoming a relevant tool as a diagnostic predictor of mammalian sperm function once transferred to the industry.

Mammalian spermatozoa and cumulus cells bind to a 3D model generated by recombinant zona pellucida protein-coated beads