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Query: UMLS:C0043167 (pertussis)
 19,595 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

Mammalian fertilization is initiated by the species-specific binding of sperm to the zona pellucida, or egg coat. Earlier studies suggested that sperm-egg adhesion in mouse is mediated by the binding of beta1,4-galactosyltransferase-I (GalT) on the sperm surface to specific glycoside ligands on the egg coat glycoprotein, ZP3. Binding of multiple ZP3 oligosaccharides induces GalT aggregation, triggering a pertussis toxin-sensitive G-protein cascade leading to induction of the acrosome reaction. Consistent with this, sperm bearing targeted deletions in GalT are unable to bind ZP3 nor undergo ZP3-dependent acrosomal exocytosis; however, GalT-null sperm are still able to bind to the egg coat. This indicates that sperm-egg binding requires at least two independent binding mechanisms: a GalT-ZP3-independent event that mediates initial adhesion, followed by a GalT-ZP3 interaction that facilitates acrosomal exocytosis. During the past few years, novel GalT-ZP3-independent gamete receptors have been identified that appear to participate in initial gamete adhesion. On such receptor is SED1, an EGF repeat and discoidin domain protein that coats sperm as they traverse through the epididymis, and which is required for sperm to bind the egg coat. Similarly, a novel egg coat ligand is present on ovulated oocytes, but not on ovarian eggs, and which also appears to function in initial sperm binding. The identification of novel gamete receptors that are required for sperm-egg binding opens up new avenues for the development of specific contraceptive strategies.
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PMID:Identification of novel gamete receptors that mediate sperm adhesion to the egg coat. 1641 65

A translucent matrix termed the zona pellucida (ZP) surrounds the mammalian oocyte. It plays a critical role in fertilization by acting as a "docking site" for binding of spermatozoa followed by induction of the acrosome reaction in the zona bound sperm. Recent analyses of the genes of the human oocyte revealed that the ZP matrix is composed of four glycoproteins, designated as ZP1, ZP2, ZP3 and ZP4, instead of 3 found in the mouse ZP. Comparison of the deduced amino acid (aa) sequences of the human ZP glycoproteins with those from various species, revealed that these are evolutionarily conserved. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that ZP1 and ZP4 may be related as these have the highest sequence identity at the aa level within a given species. Each zona protein has a signal sequence driving these proteins to the endoplasmic reticulum, a aproximately 260 aa long 'ZP domain' comprising of 8-10 conserved cysteine residues, a C-terminal, hydrophobic transmembrane-like region and a short cytoplasmic tail. In order to understand the structure-function relationship of human ZP glycoproteins, our lab has cloned and expressed ZP2, ZP3 and ZP4 proteins both in E. coli as well as baculovirus expression systems. Simultaneously, our group has been able to amplify the cDNA encoding human ZP1. Employing baculovirus-expressed recombinant ZP glycoproteins; our group has provided evidence for the first time that in human, in addition to ZP3, ZP4 is also able to induce acrosomal exocytosis in the capacitated spermatozoa. ZP3 mediated induction of the acrosome reaction can be inhibited by pertussis toxin suggesting the involvement of G, protein in downstream signaling in contrast to ZP4, which follows a G, protein independent pathway. Hence, elucidation of the role of individual ZP glycoproteins in humans will provide a better insight into the gamete interaction culminating in fertilization.
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PMID:Structural and functional attributes of zona pellucida glycoproteins. 1756 74

Mammalian fertilization is initiated by species-specific binding of the sperm to the zona pellucida, or egg coat. Previous studies suggested that sperm adhesion to the egg coat is facilitated, at least in part, through the binding of sperm surface beta1 ,4-galactosyltransferase I (GaIT) to glycoside chains on the egg coat glycoprotein, ZP3. Binding of multiple ZP3 oligosaccharides induces aggregation of GaIT within the sperm membrane, triggering, directly or indirectly, a pertussis toxin sensitive G-protein cascade leading to induction of the acrosome reaction. Consistent with this, spermatozoa bearing targeted deletions in GaIT are unable to bind ZP3 or undergo ZP3-dependent acrosomal exocytosis; however, unexpectedly, GaIT-null sperm are still able to bind to the egg coat. This indicates that sperm-egg binding requires at least two independent binding mechanisms; a GaIT-ZP3-independent event that mediates initial adhesion, followed by a GaIT-ZP3 interaction that facilitates acrosomal exocytosis. Our recent efforts have focused on the identification and characterization of these novel gamete receptors. One recently identified sperm protein that is required for sperm adhesion to the egg coat is SED1. SED1 is a bimotif protein composed of two Notch-like EGF repeats and two discoidin/complement F5/8 domains. SED1 is secreted by the epididymal epithelium and coats spermatozoa as they progress through the epididymis. Spermatozoa null for SED1 fail to bind the egg coat, illustrating its requirement for gamete adhesion. Interestingly, SED1 is also expressed by a variety of other epithelial tissues, where it appears to be required for epithelial morphogenesis and/or maintenance. A second novel gamete receptor has recently been identified on the coat of ovulated oocytes. This ZP3-independent, egg coat component is a high molecular weight, wheat germ agglutinin (WGA)-reactive glycoprotein that is derived from oviduct secretions and appears to participate in initial sperm adhesion. The amino acid sequence of this oviduct-derived ligand is currently being determined for the generation of peptide-specific antibodies and for the creation of knock out mice. The identification of novel gamete receptors that are required for sperm-egg binding opens up new avenues for the development of specific contraceptive strategies.
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PMID:Novel gamete receptors that facilitate sperm adhesion to the egg coat. 1756 85

Fertilization is indispensable for zygotic formation leading to the birth of animals and the species-specific sperm-egg binding thought to be the initial step in this important process. In birds, the oocyte, which encounters the spermatozoa at the time of fertilization, is enclosed in a perivitelline membrane (pvm) constructed of several zona pellucida glycoproteins (ZP proteins: ZP1, ZP2, ZP3, ZP4 and ZPD). The aim of this study was to determine the ZP protein in the pvm responsible for sperm-pvm binding in Japanese quail. We tested the effects of anti-ZP protein antibodies on in vitro sperm perforation in the pvm. The results showed that the anti-ZP1 and ZP3 antibody significantly blocked hole formation by sperm, whereas anti-ZP2, ZP4 and ZPD as well as normal rabbit serum had no such effect. When the sperm acrosome reaction was inhibited in the presence of pertussis toxin, sperm-pvm binding was observed. This sperm-pvm binding was significantly prevented when the purified ZP1 or ZP3 was included in the reaction mixture. Moreover, both digoxigenin-labeled ZP1 and ZP3 were found to interact with the sperm head by immunocytochemical observation. Our results indicate that sperm binding to the pvm is, at least in part, mediated by the interaction of ZP1 and ZP3 with the sperm head during fertilization in Japanese quail.
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PMID:Egg Envelope Glycoproteins ZP1 and ZP3 Mediate Sperm-Egg Interaction in the Japanese Quail. 3290 12


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