BLOCK IN PORCINE GAMETE INTERACTION BY POLYCLONAL ANTIBODIES TO A PIGZP3-BETA FRAGMENT HAVING PARTIAL SEQUENCE HOMOLOGY TO HUMAN ZP3

A murine monoclonal antibody (MA-30) recognizing a sequential epitope on porcine zona pellucida-3 beta glycoprotein (ZP3 beta) and capable o f inhibiting sperm-egg interaction was previously described. Polyclona l antibodies against a similar to 6 kDa fragment from the tryptic dige st of ZP3 beta, reacting with MA-30, can also inhibit porcine gamete i nteraction in vitro. Partial N-terminal sequencing of the smallest fra gment from the ZP3 beta tryptic digest having reactivity with MA-30 sh ows sequence homology with human ZP3.