Sperm from mice carrying a targeted mutation of the acrosin gene can penetrate the oocyte zona pellucida and effect fertilization.
T Baba, S Azuma, S Kashiwabara, Y Toyoda - Journal of Biological …, 1994 - ASBMB
The physiological function of mammalian sperm acrosin has long been believed to be
involved in the limited proteolysis of the oocyte zona pellucida, thus enabling the sperm to
penetrate this extracellular matrix and to gain access to the oocyte plasma membrane. Here
we show that male mice homozygous for a targeted mutation in the mouse acrosin gene are
still fertile in spite of the complete absence of acrosin protease activity in the sperm. In vitro
fertilization assays verified that sperm from the homozygous mutant mice penetrate the zona …
involved in the limited proteolysis of the oocyte zona pellucida, thus enabling the sperm to
penetrate this extracellular matrix and to gain access to the oocyte plasma membrane. Here
we show that male mice homozygous for a targeted mutation in the mouse acrosin gene are
still fertile in spite of the complete absence of acrosin protease activity in the sperm. In vitro
fertilization assays verified that sperm from the homozygous mutant mice penetrate the zona …