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Acrosome Reaction as a Preparation for Gamete Fusion

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Sperm Acrosome Biogenesis and Function During Fertilization

Part of the book series: Advances in Anatomy, Embryology and Cell Biology ((ADVSANAT,volume 220))

Abstract

The acrosome reaction (AR) is a universal requisite for sperm–egg fusion. However, whereas through the animal kingdom fusion of spermatozoa with the egg plasma membrane occurs via the inner acrosomal membrane exposed after the AR, in eutherian mammals, gamete fusion takes place through a specialized region of the acrosome known as the equatorial segment (ES) which becomes fusogenic only after the AR is completed. This chapter focuses on the different molecular mechanisms involved in the acquisition of the fusogenicity of the ES after the AR. We provide an update of the knowledge about the proteins proposed to have a role in this process either by modifying cytoskeletal and/or membrane molecules or by relocalizing to the ES after the AR to subsequently participate in gamete fusion.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental (IBYME-CONICET), Vuelta de Obligado 2490, C1428ADN, Buenos Aires, Argentina

    Patricia S. Cuasnicú, Vanina G. Da Ros, Mariana Weigel Muñoz & Débora J. Cohen

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  1. Patricia S. Cuasnicú
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  2. Vanina G. Da Ros
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  3. Mariana Weigel Muñoz
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  4. Débora J. Cohen
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Correspondence to Patricia S. Cuasnicú .

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  1. Instituto de Biologia y Medicina Experim, Buenos Aires, Argentina

    Mariano G. Buffone

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Cuasnicú, P.S., Da Ros, V.G., Weigel Muñoz, M., Cohen, D.J. (2016). Acrosome Reaction as a Preparation for Gamete Fusion. In: Buffone, M. (eds) Sperm Acrosome Biogenesis and Function During Fertilization. Advances in Anatomy, Embryology and Cell Biology, vol 220. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-30567-7_9

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