An overview of the proacrosin/acrosin system in human spermatozoa.

VAZQUEZ-LEVIN MH; FURLONG LI; VEAUTE C; GHIRINGHELLI PD

Treballs (Proceedings) de la Societat Catalana de Biología.

Año: 2005 vol. 56 p. 1 - 16

Among all sperm acrosomal trypsin-like proteinases studied, Acrosin (EC 3.4.21.10) has been identified in all species evaluated, and has been associated with human sperm fertility potential. In this report, a brief overview of cellular, biochemical, and molecular aspects related to the human proacrosin/acrosin system has been compiled from studies performed by our research team as well as by contributions of numerous groups from the clinical and basic field of reproductive biology. As a result of these studies, a putative model for the interaction of the proacrosin/acrosin system with zona pellucida glycoproteins in association with the proenzyme activation and proteinase activity is presented. (Special issue: "Endocrinologia molecular")