Role of zona pellucida glycoproteins during fertilization in humans

Fertilization involves the fusion of two highly differentiated haploid gametes (the egg and the spermatozoon) leading to the formation of a single cell embryo, which is essential for generating new progeny. During fertilization, spermatozoa initially bind to the zona pellucida (ZP). The ZP is an extracellular, glycoproteinaceous coat that surrounds mammalian oocytes. Under physiological conditions, ZP matrix plays an important role in taxon-specific binding of the spermatozoa to the oocyte and induction of the acrosome reaction in the spermatozoa bound to ZP.
Source: Journal of Reproductive Immunology - Category: Allergy & Immunology Authors: Source Type: research