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The activity for the induction of the sperm acrosome reaction localises in the outer layers and exists in the high-molecular-weight components of the egg-jelly of the newt, Cynops pyrrhogaster

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  09 April 2002

Takayuki Sasaki ,
Saori Kamimura ,
Hiroyuki Takai ,
Akihiko Watanabe  and
Kazuo Otinake
Takayuki Sasaki
Affiliation:
Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Yamagata University, Yamagata 990-8560, Japan
Saori Kamimura
Affiliation:
Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Yamagata University, Yamagata 990-8560, Japan
Hiroyuki Takai
Affiliation:
Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Yamagata University, Yamagata 990-8560, Japan
Akihiko Watanabe
Affiliation:
Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Yamagata University, Yamagata 990-8560, Japan
Kazuo Otinake
Affiliation:
Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Yamagata University, Yamagata 990-8560, Japan
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Abstract

Localisation of the acrosome reaction inducing activity in egg-jelly was examined in the newt, Cynops pyrrhogaster. The jelly has six layers: the J0, J1, J2, J3, J4 and st layers. Jelly was mechanically dissected and placed on a Millipore filter. When sperm were added from the outer surface side of the jelly, most of them exhibited the acrosome reaction after passing through the jelly. When egg-jelly was divided into four layers, strong activity for the induction of acrosome reaction was detected in the outer layers, J4+st. These findings suggest that the acrosome reaction is induced by a substance in the outer layers of the egg-jelly. Among jelly components separated by SDS-PAGE, a fraction of more than 500 kDa in molecular weight induced the acrosome reaction. Wheat germ agglutinin (WGA), Griffonia simplicifoliar agglutinin 1 (GS-1), Maclura pomifera agglutinin (MPA) and Arachis hypogaea agglutinin (PNA) inhibited the induction of the acrosome reaction by jelly extract, and WGA did so in a dose-dependent manner. Those lectins precipitated some molecules of over 500 kDa. These results suggest that the acrosome reaction is induced by the high molecular-weight components of egg-jelly in C. pyrrhogaster.

Keywords

Acrosome reactionEgg-jellyInternal fertilisationNewtWGA
Type
Research Article
Information
Zygote , Volume 10 , Issue 1 , February 2002 , pp. 1 - 9
Copyright
2002 Cambridge University Press

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