Alapfogalmak
The helical actin structure in the sperm midpiece undergoes a reorganization at the time of sperm-egg fusion, which triggers a decrease in midpiece diameter and motility arrest, both of which are required to complete the fusion process during fertilization.
Kivonat
The content investigates the structural and functional changes in the sperm flagellum after acrosome exocytosis (AE) and during the interaction with the eggs. The key findings are:
AE promotes a cessation of motility in a subset of sperm cells, which coincides with an increase in FM4-64 fluorescence in the midpiece.
AE is followed by a decrease in the midpiece diameter, which is observed using super-resolution microscopy, immunostaining, and scanning electron microscopy.
The contraction of the midpiece initiates preferentially at the proximal part of the flagellum, near the head-midpiece junction.
The midpiece contraction is driven by an increase in intracellular calcium ([Ca2+]i) that occurs concomitantly with a reorganization of the actin helicoidal cortex.
Live-cell imaging during in vitro fertilization showed that the midpiece contraction is required for motility cessation after sperm-egg fusion is initiated.
A decrease in [Ca2+]i in the midpiece following fusion precedes the midpiece contraction and motility arrest, which are necessary to complete the attachment and fusion between gametes.
Overall, the study provides the first evidence of the F-actin network's role in regulating sperm motility, adapting its function to meet the specific cellular requirements during fertilization.
Statisztikák
The midpiece diameter in acrosome-intact sperm was 0.731 ± 0.008 μm, while in acrosome-reacted sperm it was 0.694 ± 0.007 μm.
Idézetek
"The helical structure of polymerized actin undergoes a radical structural change at the time of sperm-egg fusion."
"A decrease in [Ca2+]i in the midpiece after fusion precedes midpiece contraction and the cessation of sperm motility that precedes sperm-egg fusion."