Comparative structural and antigenic properties of zona pellucida glycoproteins

For rational and optimal use of the zona pellucida glycoproteins as antigens for immunocontraception, a comprehensive understanding of their structure, function and antigenic properties is necessary. The antigenic relatedness of the pig zona pellucida glycoproteins were analysed and compared with three glycoproteins cloned from ovarian cDNA libraries of the anuran Xenopus laevis. The vitelline envelope from Xenopus laevis eggs (an extracellular matrix structure equivalent to the mammalian zona pellucida) is composed of glycoproteins that are homologous to the three mammalian zona pellucida glycoproteins, ZPA, ZPB and ZPC. The experimental results were used to make antigenic and functional (fertilization) predictions about zona pellucida glycoproteins. These studies provide a potentially useful perspective for devising immunocontraceptive methods of fertility regulation.