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Gamete Binding and Fusion

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Cell Fusions

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Abstract

Successful mammalian fertilization results in the union of two gametes, a spermatozoon and a mature oocyte. Membrane fusion events are essential for at least two distinct steps of the fertilization process: (i) the vesiculation of the acrosomal surface membranes during sperm acrosomal exocytosis (AE), induced by sperm binding to the egg-coat, and (ii) fusion of the oocyte plasma membrane, the oolemma, with the sperm plasma membrane that occurs after AE and sperm-egg coat penetration. The rearrangement of sperm plasma membrane domains/membrane lipid raft formation during sperm capacitation in the female reproductive tract is a priming step that enables the fusion and vesiculation of outer acrosomal membranes during AE. The membrane fusion/vesiculation events of AE seem to share similarities with synaptic vesicle fusion, assisted by the membrane proteins of the SNARE hypothesis. The AE exposes the transmembrane receptors on the sperm head equatorial segment in preparation for sperm-oolemma adhesion and fusion. Gene ablation studies indicate that the tetraspanin family proteins CD9 and CD81 on the oolemma interact with the superglobulin family protein IZUMO on the sperm plasmalemma to mediate sperm-oolemma adhesion in mammals. The fusogenicity of IZUMO has not been established, so the involvement of this system in the actual membrane fusion part of sperm–oolemma interaction remains open. Interactions of ADAM family proteins on sperm plasma membrane with oolemma integrins appear non-essential during sperm-oolemma fusion, but integrins may play a supporting role via sustenance of the tetraspanin web in the oocyte cortex. Sperm-oolemma binding may be reinforced by a cast of other receptors found on the surface of the sperm head (e.g. CRISP and MN9). The present chapter reviews recent progress in the study of these fundamental factors of gamete membrane fusion during mammalian fertilization.

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Abbreviations

ADAM:

A disintegrin and a metalloprotease

AE:

Acrosomal exocytosis

AFAF:

Acrosome formation associated factor

CD:

Cluster of differentiation

CEA:

Carcinoembryonic antigen

CRISP:

Cysteine-rich secretory protein

IAM:

Inner acrosomal membrane

ICSI:

Intracytoplasmic sperm injection

IgSF:

Immunoglobulin superfamily (protein)

KO:

Knock-out

LEL:

Large extracellular loop

NSF:

N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive factor

OAM:

Outer acrosomal membrane

PVS:

Perivitelline space

PSG:

Pregnancy-specific glycoprotein

PM:

Plasma membrane

PTGFRN:

Prostaglandin F2 receptor negative regulator

PTP:

Protein tyrosine phosphatase

SEL:

Small extracellular loop

SNAP:

Soluble NSF attachment protein

SNARE:

SNAP receptors

t-SNARE:

Target-SNARE

VAMP:

Vesicle associated membrane protein

v-SNARE:

Vesicle-SNARE

ZP:

Zona pellucida

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Animal Science, University of Missouri-Columbia, Columbia, MO, 65211, USA

    Young-Joo Yi, Shawn W. Zimmerman & Peter Sutovsky

  2. Research Center for Transgenic Cloned Pigs, Chungnam National University, Daejeon, 305-764, South Korea

    Young-Joo Yi

  3. Departments of Obstetrics, Gynecology & Women’s Health, University of Missouri-Columbia, Columbia, MO, 65211, USA

    Peter Sutovsky

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Correspondence to Peter Sutovsky .

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  1. Faculty of Life Sciences, Division of Cell Biology, University of Copenhagen, Gronnegaardsvej 7, Frederiksberg C, 1870, Denmark

    Lars-Inge Larsson

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Yi, YJ., Zimmerman, S.W., Sutovsky, P. (2011). Gamete Binding and Fusion. In: Larsson, LI. (eds) Cell Fusions. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-90-481-9772-9_8

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