Store-operated calcium channels trigger exocytosis of the sea urchin sperm acrosomal vesicle

The acrosome reaction (AR) of sperm is a prerequisite for fusion with the egg. In sea urchins, the complete AR (CAR) consists of exocytosis of the acrosomal vesicle (AV) and polymerization of acrosomal actin to form the approximately 1 micro m long acrosomal process. The fucose sulfate polymer (FSP) of egg jelly stimulates Ca(2+) entry through two distinct Ca(2+) channels and induces the CAR. Here we report that the second channel is blocked by SKF96365 (SKF), an inhibitor of store-operated channels. SKF also blocks the thapsigargin (TG), trifluoperazine (TFP), and calmidizolium (CMZ) stimulated Ca(2+) entry into sperm. These data indicate that the second Ca(2+) channel is a store-operated channel (SOC) that may be regulated by calmodulin. The TG, TFP, and CMZ-induced intracellular Ca(2+) elevations are similar to those induced by FSP, but the sperm acrosomal process does not polymerize. An antibody to bindin, the major protein of the AV, showed that in a significant percentage of these drug-treated sperm, the AV had undergone exocytosis. When NH(4)Cl was added to increase intracellular pH, the TG-treated sperm polymerized actin to form the acrosomal process. We conclude that the second Ca(2+) channel of sea urchin sperm is a SOC that triggers AV exocytosis.