Sperm recognition domain in mammalian egg coat matrix

2014 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 24570125
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Structural biochemistry
• Research Institution: Chiba University
• Principal Investigator: YONEZAWA Naoto 千葉大学, 理学(系)研究科(研究院), 准教授 (80212314)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): YANAGIDA Mitsuaki 順天堂大学, 医学研究所, 准教授 (80365569)
• Co-Investigator(Renkei-kenkyūsha): TANOKURA Masaru 東京大学, 農学生命科学研究科, 教授 (60136786)
• Project Period (FY): 2012-04-01 – 2015-03-31
• Keywords: 糖タンパク質 / 受精 / 透明帯

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Mammalian egg coat recognizes sperm in a species selective manner on fertilization and blocks polyspermy after establishment of fertilization. Molecular mechanisms on these phenomena are to be clarified. We found that porcine sperm prefer beta-galactose and bovine sperm prefer alpha-mannose by using glycolipid analogues. Bovine egg coat is composed of three proteins called ZP2, ZP3 and ZP4. We found that an N-glycan linked to the middle region of ZP3 is involved in sperm recognition. On the other hand, we have previously found that in porcine egg coat an N-glycan linked to the middle region of ZP4 is involved in sperm recognition. Thus, the roles of ZP3 and ZP4 in sperm recognition might be different between cattle and pig.

Free Research Field

構造生物化学