Biochemical Studies on the Acrosome Reaction of the Starfish, Asterias Amurensis I. Factors Participating in the Acrosome Reaction |
| |
Authors: | HIROYUKI IKADAI MOTONORI HOSHI |
| |
Affiliation: | Biochemical Laboratory, Institute of Low Temperature Science, Hokkaido University, Sapporo 060, Japan |
| |
Abstract: | In contrast with the case in sea urchin sperm, in starfish the acrosome reaction is not spontaneously induced by simply increasing the extracellular Ca2+ concentration or pH. At higher pHs, starfish sperm undergo morphological changes accompanied by exocytosis of the acrosomal vacuole, but they do not form acrosomal filaments. Nomarski-microscopic observation confirmed that spermatozoa undergo the acrosome reaction within the jelly coat. Acrosome reaction-inducing substance, a glycoprotein from the egg jelly, required a diffusible cofactor(s) present in the egg jelly for full activity. Several lines of evidence showed that this diffusible factor(s) is not merely Ca2+. |
| |
Keywords: | |
|
|