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Egg and sperm recognition systems during fertilization |
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| Authors: | Noritaka Hirohashi Noriko Kamei Hideo Kubo Hitoshi Sawada Midori Matsumoto Motonori Hoshi |
| Institution: | Department of Biology, Ochanomizu University, 2-1-1 Ohtsuka, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 112-8610,; Reeve-Irvine Research Center, Stem Cell Research Center, Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, 1216 Gillespie Neuroscience Research Facility, School of Medicine, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA 92697-4265, USA.; Department of Medical Biology, Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Medical Science, 3-18-22, Honkomagome, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8613,; Sugashima Marine Biological Laboratory, Graduate School of Science, Nagoya University, 429-63 Sugashima, Toba 517-0004,; Department of Biosciences and Informatics, Faculty of Science and Technology, Keio University, 3-14-1, Hiyoshi, Kouhoku-ku Yokohama, Kanagawa 223-8522, and; Biological Laboratory, The Open University of Japan, 2-11 Wakaba, Mihama-ku, Chiba 261-8586, Japan |
| Abstract: | Fertilization is a programmed process that has many molecules and sequential events amenable to study. The biochemistry of fertilization has identified cellular and acellular components fundamental to the interactions between sperm and egg. Recent studies highlight the molecular details of the species-specificity of fertilization that involve protein–protein and protein–carbohydrate interactions. Although the diversity of structure and mechanism may imply rapid evolution of fertilization proteins, understanding the structure–function relationships has become important. Here, we introduce the molecules controlling the sperm AR, sperm attachment to, and penetration through, the egg investments. |
| Keywords: | acrosome reaction acrosome reaction-inducing substance (ARIS) bindin egg coat fertilization lysin |