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Specific binding of sulphated polymers to ram sperm proacrosin
Author(s) -
Williams Rachel M.,
Jones Roy
Publication year - 1990
Publication title -
febs letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.593
H-Index - 257
eISSN - 1873-3468
pISSN - 0014-5793
DOI - 10.1016/0014-5793(90)81259-q
Subject(s) - zona pellucida , sperm , glycoprotein , human fertilization , zona pellucida glycoprotein , microbiology and biotechnology , fucoidan , chemistry , acrosin , polysaccharide , spermiogenesis , biochemistry , acrosome , biophysics , biology , oocyte , anatomy , embryo , botany
Sulphated polysaccharides and zona pellucida glycoproteins have been shown to bind non‐enzymatically to proacrosin, the protein found within the acrosomal vesicle of mammalian spermatozoa. The mechanism of this interaction has been investigated using 125 I‐fucoidan to probe purified ram sperm proacrosin. Results show that (a) binding of' 125 I‐fucoidan to proacrosin is inhibited only by sulphated polymers and (b) recognition is mediated by poly(sulphate) groups and is largely independent of the composition of the polymer chain. It is suggested that a similar mechanism is responsible for the interaction between proacrosin and zona pellueida glycoproteins during the early stages of fertilization in mammals and this process mediates firm binding of spermatozoa to the egg.