ACROSOME REACTION AND

SPERM PENETRATION
THROUGH ENVELOPES

Acrosome
Acrosome content

Outer acrosomal mb
Inner acrosomal mb

Acrosome reaction

Proceso exocittico: acrosoma

Fusion of
plasma
membrane and
outer
acrosomal
membrane

Reaccin acrosmica
- Irreversible step: strict regulation
- Capacitation

Acrosome reaction

- Duration: minutes

- 2 key roles:
- Acrosomic enzymes release
- Exposure of inner acrosomal membrane

RA induction
- Natural agonist:

ZP3

- Other species: participation of other proteins

ZP1, ZP3 Y ZP4

ZP3 y ZP4:

RA induction
- Agents and biological fluids induce RA
- Calcium ionophore A23187
- Progesterone
- Follicular fluid: factors?
- RA induction by friction

Bases moleculares de la RA
Intracellular changes in ion concentration (calcium
entry)
Increasing of pH and intracellular AMPc
Formation of vesicles and pores: release of
acrosome content

TRPC CHANNELS: CANONICAL TRANSIENT RECEPTOR POTENTIAL

fosforilacin

PLP3

PLP2

Molecular bases of RA
- Vesicles and pores: release of acrosomal content
- Participation of vSNARE and tSNARE
- Complementarity:
tSNARE in plasma membrane
vSNARE in outer acrosomal membrane
- Rab3A checks if the fit between the vSNARE and
tSNARe is right
- Other proteins: complexin I y II (Zhao et al., 2007)
synaptotagmin, alpha-SNAP/NSF.

Where?

Ikawa et al., 2010

2011

Ampulla, only 5% of the sperm were acrosome-intact!!!!

Novel proteins

Anlisis de la reaccin acrosmica

- Importance of acrosome reaction analysis:
- 80 million of people: infertility
- 1/3: male disfunction
- Mthods based on detection of acrosomal content or
inner acrosomal mb
- Antibodies
- Lectins

Analysis of RA in human sperm

PSA-FITC:
Contenido acrosomal

Reaccionado

No reaccionado

RA analysis:
porcine spermatozoas

ioduro de propidio: muerto

PNA: membrana
acrosomal
interna
Intacto

Reaccionado

Muerto

Real time analysis of RA

Temporal characteristics of the biphasic nature of the AR in human sperm

SBTI: acrosina: se une a FITC

CD46: membrana acrosomal interna. Se une a ficoeritrina
Harper, C. V. et al. J Cell Sci 2008;121:2130-2135

PENETRATION THROUGH
ENVELOPES

Penetration through the envelopes

Cumulus cells
Zona pellucida

Cumulus cells
Hyaluronidase: PH-20

Hyaluronidase: Hyal5

ZP PENETRATION

zona pellucida penetration

- Mecanic force: sperm motility
- Proteolisis: acrosomal content

- Acrosine
- TESP5
- Proteasome

TESP5
Serin-protease
Knock-out: RA alteration, ZP
penetration and fusion.

Proteasome
Protein complex:
protein degradation
Proteins are tagged
for degradation with a
small protein called
ubiquitin

Proteasomal inhibitors: effect

Protenas ubiquitinadas: capa externa de la ZP

Thanks