title: Could multiple low-affinity bonds mediate primary sperm-zona pellucida binding?
abstract: The current model for primary sperm binding to the zona pellucida is that a cell-surface sperm protein binds with high affinity in an order-specific manner to one of the zona pellucida proteins, ZP3. However, the molecular details of primary sperm-zona pellucida binding remain elusive. A possible revised model is that multiple low-affinity bonds between spermatozoa and the zona pellucida may be sufficient for primary binding. The avidity of several low-affinity bonds can exceed that of a single high-affinity bond, which is sufficient to tether a motile spermatozoon. A mechanism involving multiple low-affinity bonds could account for some of the difficulties in elucidating primary sperm-zona pellucida interactions.
authors.affiliation: pc95p@nih.gov
authors.forename: Philip E
authors.initials: PE
authors.lastname: Castle
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008954:Models, Biological; D011485:Protein Binding; D013084:Sperm-Ovum Interactions / Q000502:physiology*; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000378:metabolism*; D015044:Zona Pellucida / Q000378:metabolism*