M. Aviles et al., MODIFICATIONS OF CARBOHYDRATE RESIDUES AND ZP2 AND ZP3 GLYCOPROTEINS IN THE MOUSE ZONA-PELLUCIDA AFTER FERTILIZATION, Biology of reproduction, 57(5), 1997, pp. 1155-1163
Oligosaccharide side chains of zona pellucida (ZP) glycoproteins play
a key role in the sperm-egg interaction phenomena during fertilization
. In the present study, modifications of the ZP glycoproteins during t
he fertilization process in the mouse were studied by the lectin-gold
technique and immunocytochemistry in conjunction with quantitative ana
lysis. Binding of PNA, RCA I, DSA, LFA, MAA, AAA, and anti-ZP2 and ant
i-ZP3 antibodies was observed throughout the ZP of both unfertilized a
nd fertilized eggs. However, HPA and BSAIB(4) labeling was found only
in the inner region of the ZP. After neuraminidase treatment (Neu), HP
A showed an affinity for the entire ZP. Labeling by LFA, WGA, MAA, PNA
, BSAIB(4), and AAA decreased in the ZP of fertilized eggs; however, t
here was an increase in the binding of RCA I. HPA and Neu-HPA increase
d only in the inner region of the ZP. Immunoreactivity to antibodies a
gainst ZP2 and ZP3 also decreased after fertilization. The present res
ults demonstrate that 1) terminal carbohydrate residues contained in t
he ZP glycoproteins are modified after fertilization and 2) inner and
outer regions of the ZP contain different oligosaccharide side chains.