title: Zona pellucida induces conversion of proacrosin to acrosin.
abstract: The effect of heat-solubilized zonae pellucidae (ZP) isolated from mature pig ovaries on the conversion of pig proacrosin to acrosin was examined and compared with the effects of different sulphated polysaccharides. At low concentrations, zona glycoproteins potently stimulated acrosin auto-activation. Up to 2.5 micrograms ml-1 ZP, the acceleration of acrosin activation was shown to be dependent on the ZP concentration. At higher concentrations zona glycoproteins exerted an inhibitory effect on acrosin amidase activity. A similar effect was demonstrated for fucoidan, heparin, and chondroitin sulphate. The results intimate that in vivo, the conversion of proacrosin to acrosin is regulated at the sperm-zona interface.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, University of Munich, FRG.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Töpfer-Petersen
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Cechová
mesh_terms: D000176:Acrosin / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D002809:Chondroitin Sulfates / Q000494:pharmacology; D004789:Enzyme Activation / Q000187:drug effects; D004792:Enzyme Precursors / Q000378:metabolism*; D006493:Heparin / Q000494:pharmacology; D008351:Mannans / Q000494:pharmacology; D010063:Ovum / Q000502:physiology*; D011134:Polysaccharides / Q000494:pharmacology; D012697:Serine Endopeptidases / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000378:metabolism*; D012709:Serum Albumin / Q000494:pharmacology; D013552:Swine; D015044:Zona Pellucida / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D004792:Enzyme Precursors; D008351:Mannans; D011134:Polysaccharides; D012709:Serum Albumin; D006493:Heparin; D002809:Chondroitin Sulfates; C007789:fucoidan; D012697:Serine Endopeptidases; C022438:proacrosin; D000176:Acrosin