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Chymotrypsin‐like enzymes are involved in sperm penetration through the vitelline coat of Ciona intestinalis egg
Author(s) -
Pinto Maria Rosaria,
Hoshi Motonori,
Marino Rita,
Amoroso Alessandro,
De Santis Rosaria
Publication year - 1990
Publication title -
molecular reproduction and development
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.745
H-Index - 105
eISSN - 1098-2795
pISSN - 1040-452X
DOI - 10.1002/mrd.1080260405
Subject(s) - ciona intestinalis , biology , chymotrypsin , sperm , protease , trypsin , human fertilization , vitelline membrane , enzyme , penetration (warfare) , gamete , microbiology and biotechnology , biochemistry , anatomy , oocyte , genetics , embryo , gene , operations research , engineering
In Ciona intestinalis , sperm penetration through the egg vitelline coat is an essential event of fertilization. We investigated whether trypsin‐ and chymotrypsin‐like enzymes are involved in this event. Inhibitors and peptide substrates for chymotrypsin‐like enzymes blocked the overall process of fertilization in a concentration‐dependent manner. The inhibitory activity was specifically exerted on the step of sperm penetration. Chymotrypsin‐like protease activity was identified in spermatozoa with the fluorogenic synthetic substrate Suc‐Ala‐Ala‐Phe‐AMC, which was the most effective substrate in blocking sperm penetration. These data indicate that a chymotrypsin‐like protease activity is a sperm lysin of Ciona intestinalis .