Fertilization: a uterine glycosaminoglycan stimulates the conversion of sperm proacrosin to acrosin.
Acrosin is a proteinase required for mammalian fertilization, and in freshly ejaculated spermatozoa exists as an inactive zymogen, proacrosin. A factor prsent in uterine flushings of gilts stimulates the conversion of highly pruified boar proacrosin to acrosin. Characterization of this factor indicates that its active component is a glycosaminoglycan.
D000176:Acrosin / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D010450:Endopeptidases / Q000378:metabolism*; D004789:Enzyme Activation / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D005306:Fertilization; D006025:Glycosaminoglycans / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D008297:Male; D011498:Protein Precursors / Q000378:metabolism*; D013075:Sperm Capacitation; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000201:enzymology*; D013552:Swine; D014599:Uterus / Q000502:physiology*
D006025:Glycosaminoglycans; D011498:Protein Precursors; D010450:Endopeptidases; D000176:Acrosin