The Rab3A-22A Chimaera Prevents Sperm Exocytosis by Stabilizing Open Fusion Pores

BUSTOS,M.A.; TOMES,C.N.; LUCCHESI, O.; DE LA IGLESIA, PAOLA X.; QUEVEDO, M.F.; POCOGNONI, CRISTIAN A.

JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL CHEMISTRY (ONLINE)

Cadmus Communications for the American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

Lugar: Columbia; Año: 2016 vol. 291 p. 23101 - 23111

1083-351X

At the final stage of exocytotis, a fusion pore opens between the plasma and a secretory vesicle membranes; typically, when the pore dilates the vesicle releases its cargo. Sperm contain a large dense-core secretory granule (the acrosome) whose contents are secreted by regulated exocytosis at fertilization. Minutes after the arrival of the triggering signal, the acrosomal and plasma membranes dock at multiple sites and fusion pores open at the contact points. It is believed that immediately afterwards, fusion pores dilate spontaneously. Rab3A is an essential component of human sperm?s exocytotic machinery. Yet, recombinant, persistently active Rab3A halts calcium-triggered secretion when introduced after docking into streptolysin O-permeabilized cells; so does a Rab3A-22A chimaera. Here, we applied functional assays, electron and confocal microscopy to show that the secretion blockage is due to the stabilization of open fusion pores. Other novel findings are that sperm SNAREs engage in α-SNAP/NSF-sensitive complexes at a post-fusion stage. Complexes are disentangled by these chaperons to achieve vesiculation and acrosomal contents release. Thus, post-fusion regulation of the pores determines their expansion and the success of the acrosome reaction.