SNARE timing in sperm acrosome exocytosis
Sperm acrosome exocytosis proceeds via ordered SNARE assembly/disassembly around intra-acrosomal Ca2+ release.
Source
Dynamics of SNARE assembly and disassembly during sperm acrosomal exocytosis
What they did
Used staged inhibitors and photolabile Ca2+ chelators in permeabilized sperm to order fusion factors.
What they found
Rab3A acts before intra-acrosomal Ca2+ efflux; SNAREs/synaptotagmin act after to complete fusion.
The limits
What it doesn't show
In vitro permeabilized sperm may not capture every in vivo regulatory layer.
Key terms
- SNARE
- Membrane fusion protein complex.
- Rab3A
- Small GTPase for tethering/priming.
- Acrosome exocytosis
- Sperm granule fusion event.
- Synaptotagmin
- Ca2+ sensor for fusion.
- NP-EGTA-AM
- Photolabile Ca2+ chelator.
- cis/trans SNARE
- Same- vs opposite-membrane complexes.
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Common questions
Before Ca2+?
Rab3A.
After Ca2+?
SNAREs/synaptotagmin.
Process?
Acrosome exocytosis.
Model?
Sperm.
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