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The composition, protein genesis and significance of the inner acrosomal membrane of eutherian sperm

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Abstract

As a consequence of the acrosomal reaction during fertilization, the inner acrosomal membrane (IAM) becomes exposed and forms the leading edge of the sperm for adhesive binding to and subsequent penetration of the zona-pellucida (ZP) of the metaphase-II-arrested oocyte. A premise of this review is that the IAM of spermatozoa anchors receptors and enzymes (on its extracellular side) that are required for sperm attachment to and penetration of the ZP. We propose a sperm cell fractionation strategy that allows for direct access to proteins bound to the extracellular side of the IAM. We review the types of integral and peripheral IAM proteins that have been found by this approach and that have been implicated in ZP recognition and lysis. We also propose a scheme for the origin and assembly of these proteins within the developing acrosome during spermiogenesis. During development, the extravesicular side of the membrane of the acrosomic vesicle is coated by peripheral proteins that transport and bind this secretory vesicle to the spermatid nucleus. The part of the membrane that binds to the nucleus becomes the IAM, while its extravesicular protein coat, which is retained between the IAM and the nuclear envelope of spermatozoa becomes the subacrosomal layer of the perinuclear theca (SAL-PT). Another premise of this review is that the IAM of spermatozoa is bound with proteins (on its intracellular side), namely the SAL-PT proteins, which hold the clue to the mechanism of acrosomal-nuclear docking. We propose a sperm cell fractionation strategy that allows for direct access to SAL-PT proteins. We then review the types of SAL-PT proteins that have been found by this approach and that have been implicated in transporting and binding the acrosome to the sperm nucleus.

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Abbreviations

AV:

acrosomic vesicle

bNLS:

bipartite nuclear localization signal

IAM:

inner acrosomal membrane

IAM38:

IAM protein 38

IAMC:

IAM coat

IVF:

in vitro fertilization

KIFC1:

a C-terminal kinesin motor protein

KPNA:

karyopherin

KPNA6:

karyopherin α6

KPNB1:

karyopherin β1

KRLn:

KRLSKAKNLIE peptide

mKRLn:

mutant KRLn

MMP2:

matrix metallo-proteinase 2

NE:

nuclear envelope

OAM:

outer acrosomal membrane

OPL:

outer periacrosomal layer

PAV:

proacrosomic vesicles or granules

PAS-PT:

postacrosomal sheath of perinuclear theca

PAWP:

post-acrosomal sheath WW-domain binding protein

pro-MMP2:

inactive zymogen of MMP2

PRSS21:

testicular serine protease 5/testisin

PT:

perinuclear theca

RAB2A:

RAB2 subfamily member A

SAL-PT:

subacrosomal layer of perinuclear theca

SAMP14:

sperm acrosome membrane protein 14

SP38:

sperm protein 38

SPACA1:

sperm acrosome membrane-associated protein 1

SSpH:

sonicated sperm heads

SubH2Bv:

subacrosomal histone H2B variant

ZP:

zona pellucida

ZPBP1:

zona pellucida binding protein 1

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biomedical and Molecular Sciences, Queen’s University, Kingston, ON, Canada, K7L 3N6

    Marvin Ferrer, Wei Xu & Richard Oko

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  1. Marvin Ferrer
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  2. Wei Xu
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  3. Richard Oko
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Correspondence to Richard Oko.

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This work was supported by grants to R.O. from NSERC (RGPIN/192093) and CIHR(MOP-84440) of Canada.

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Ferrer, M., Xu, W. & Oko, R. The composition, protein genesis and significance of the inner acrosomal membrane of eutherian sperm. Cell Tissue Res 349, 733–748 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00441-012-1433-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00441-012-1433-5

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