title: Regulating the acrosome reaction.
abstract: The acrosome reaction is a secretory event that must be completed by the sperm of many animal species prior to fusion with eggs. In mammals, exocytosis in triggered by ZP3, a glycoprotein component of the egg pellucida, following gamete contact. ZP3 promotes a sustained influx of Ca2+ into sperm that is necessary for the acrosome reaction. Here, we discuss the mechanism by which ZP3 generates Ca2+ entry, as well as the upstream events leading to this influx and downstream processes that couple it with exocytosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cell Biology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA 01655, USA. harvey.florman@umassmed.edu
authors.forename: Harvey M
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Florman
authors.forename: Melissa K
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Jungnickel
authors.forename: Keith A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Sutton
mesh_terms: D020101:Acrosome Reaction; D000818:Animals; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism*; D015220:Calcium Channels / Q000378:metabolism; D004527:Egg Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D005089:Exocytosis; D005260:Female; D006023:Glycoproteins / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D008954:Models, Biological; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000378:metabolism*; D015044:Zona Pellucida / Q000378:metabolism; D000072216:Zona Pellucida Glycoproteins
chemical_list: D015220:Calcium Channels; D004527:Egg Proteins; D006023:Glycoproteins; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface; C000606517:ZP3 protein, human; D000072216:Zona Pellucida Glycoproteins; C000606521:Zp3 protein, mouse; D002118:Calcium