Membrane fusion events are required in three steps in sea urchin fertilization: the acrosome reaction in sperm, fusion of the plasma membrane of acrosome-reacted sperm with the plasma membrane of the egg, and exocytosis of the contents of the egg cortical granules. We recently reported the involvement of a Zn2+-dependent metalloendoprotease in the acrosome reaction (Farach, H. C., D. I. Mundy, W. J. Strittmatter, and W. J. Lennarz. 1987. J. Biol. Chem. 262:5483-5487). In the current study, we investigated the possible involvement of metalloendoproteases in the two other fusion events of fertilization. The use of inhibitors of metalloendoproteases provided evidence that at least one of the fusion events subsequent to the acrosome reaction requires such enzymes. These inhibitors did not block the binding of sperm to egg or the process of cortical granule exocytosis. However, sperm-egg fusion, assayed by the ability of the bound sperm to establish cytoplasmic continuity with the egg, was inhibited by metalloendoprotease substrate. Thus, in addition to the acrosome reaction, an event in the gamete fusion process requires a metalloendoprotease.
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1 August 1988
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August 01 1988
Evidence for involvement of metalloendoproteases in a step in sea urchin gamete fusion.
J L Roe,
J L Roe
Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Texas System Cancer Center, M. D. Anderson Hospital and Tumor Institute, Houston 77030.
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H A Farach, Jr,
H A Farach, Jr
Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Texas System Cancer Center, M. D. Anderson Hospital and Tumor Institute, Houston 77030.
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W J Strittmatter,
W J Strittmatter
Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Texas System Cancer Center, M. D. Anderson Hospital and Tumor Institute, Houston 77030.
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W J Lennarz
W J Lennarz
Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Texas System Cancer Center, M. D. Anderson Hospital and Tumor Institute, Houston 77030.
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J L Roe
Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Texas System Cancer Center, M. D. Anderson Hospital and Tumor Institute, Houston 77030.
H A Farach, Jr
Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Texas System Cancer Center, M. D. Anderson Hospital and Tumor Institute, Houston 77030.
W J Strittmatter
Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Texas System Cancer Center, M. D. Anderson Hospital and Tumor Institute, Houston 77030.
W J Lennarz
Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Texas System Cancer Center, M. D. Anderson Hospital and Tumor Institute, Houston 77030.
Online ISSN: 1540-8140
Print ISSN: 0021-9525
J Cell Biol (1988) 107 (2): 539–544.
Citation
J L Roe, H A Farach, W J Strittmatter, W J Lennarz; Evidence for involvement of metalloendoproteases in a step in sea urchin gamete fusion.. J Cell Biol 1 August 1988; 107 (2): 539–544. doi: https://doi.org/10.1083/jcb.107.2.539
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