Induction of acrosomal filament formation in the sperm ofSicyonia ingentis
✍ Scribed by Griffin, Fred J. ;Clark, Wallis H.
- Publisher
- John Wiley and Sons
- Year
- 1990
- Tongue
- English
- Weight
- 973 KB
- Volume
- 254
- Category
- Article
- ISSN
- 0022-104X
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✦ Synopsis
Abstract
The acrosome reaction (AR) in the sperm of Sicyonia ingentis, which consists of the exocytosis of an acrosomal vesicle followed by the formation of an acrosomal filament, can be induced in vitro when sperm are incubated in egg water (Griffin et al., '87). Egg water (EW) was determined to possess a protein/carbohydrate ratio of approximately 4:1 and contain trypsin‐like proteolytic activity (based on the hydrolysis of synthetic peptidyl‐MCA substrates and the results of protease activity SDS‐PAGE). Results of this study demonstrate that the two phases of the AR are elicited by separate inducers or inducing activities within EW and suggest a role for an EW trypsin‐like proteolytic activity in filament formation. The protein concentration of EW (within the range of 20–80 μg/ml) correlated with acrosomal filament formation in sperm but not with acrosomal exocytosis. EW‐induced filament formation was inhibited in the presence of soybean trypsin inhibitor and p‐aminobenzamidine, although acrosomal exocytosis was not. Bovine trypsin, chymotrypsin, and Pronase induced filament formation in the small number of sperm that had spontaneously undergone acrosomal exocytosis in sea water (not incubated in EW), but did not induce additional sperm to undergo exocytosis.