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Fertilization

Fertilization

During fertilization, an egg and sperm cell fuse to create a new diploid structure. In humans, the process occurs once the egg has been released from the ovary, and travels into the fallopian tubes. The process requires several key steps: 1) sperm present in the genital tract must locate the egg; 2) once there, sperm need to release enzymes to help them burrow through the protective zona pellucida of the egg; and 3) the membranes of a single sperm cell and egg must fuse, with the sperm...

Spermatogenesis

Spermatogenesis

Spermatogenesis is the process by which haploid sperm cells are produced in the male testes. It starts with stem cells located close to the outer rim of seminiferous tubules. These spermatogonial stem cells divide asymmetrically to give rise to additional stem cells (meaning that these structures “self-renew”), as well as sperm progenitors, called spermatocytes. Importantly, this method of asymmetric mitotic division maintains a population of spermatogonial stem cells in the male reproductive...

Cleavage and Blastulation

Cleavage and Blastulation

After a large-single-celled zygote is produced via fertilization, the process of cleavage occurs while zygotes travel through the uterine tube. Cleavage is a mitotic cell division that does not result in growth. With each round of successive cell division, daughter cells get increasingly smaller.

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 10, 2026

Medium-throughput Screening Assays for Assessment of Effects on Ca2+-Signaling and Acrosome Reaction in Human Sperm

Medium-throughput Screening Assays for Assessment of Effects on Ca²⁺-Signaling and Acrosome Reaction in Human Sperm

Published on: March 1, 2019

Modes of acrosin functioning during fertilization.

Hai-Tao Mao¹, Wan-Xi Yang

¹The Sperm Laboratory, College of Life Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China.

|June 11, 2013

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Acrosin, a key enzyme in mammalian fertilization, plays a vital role in sperm-zona pellucida interactions. Despite some doubts from knockout studies, acrosin remains crucial for acrosome exocytosis and fertilization processes.

Keywords:

AR Acrosin ES GMF IAM KO MP OAM Oocyte PB PVS SZB Spermatozoa Sperm–ZP interaction ZP ZP penetration acrosome reaction equatorial segment gamete membrane fusion inner acrosomal membrane knockout middle piece outer acrosomal membrane perivitelline space polar body sperm–ZP binding zona pellucida

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Published on: November 28, 2018

Area of Science:

Reproductive Biology
Biochemistry
Sperm Cell Biology

Background:

Mammalian fertilization involves complex sperm-zona pellucida interactions.
Acrosin, a serine protease, was traditionally thought essential for zona pellucida penetration.
Acrosin's roles include activating components, binding, and hydrolyzing the zona pellucida.

Purpose of the Study:

To reassess the functional profile of acrosin in mammalian fertilization.
To summarize recent findings on proteases involved in fertilization.
To propose a refined scheme for acrosin's role, emphasizing acrosome exocytosis.

Main Methods:

Review of existing literature on acrosin and fertilization.
Analysis of studies involving acrosin-deficient mice.
Incorporation of advanced techniques like structural X-ray analysis.

Main Results:

Acrosin-deficient mice show normal fertility but delayed fertilization, questioning its indispensable role.
Acrosin is confirmed as a significant protease involved in multiple fertilization steps.
Acrosin is crucial for acrosome exocytosis and activation of other acrosomal components.

Conclusions:

Acrosin's role in fertilization is multifaceted, extending beyond direct zona pellucida hydrolysis.
Acrosome exocytosis and component activation are key functions of acrosin.
Further research using advanced structural analysis refines our understanding of acrosin's precise mechanisms.