MOLECULAR BASIS OF SPERM-EGG RECOGNITION IN MAMMALES

MOLECULAR BASIS OF SPERM-EGG RECOGNITION IN MAMMALES

Fertilisation is the process of fusion of male and female gametes or male germ cell which is sperm and female germ cell which is ovum. A.K.A egg. This process basically involves fusion of sperm with an oocyte which creates single diploid (2n) cell which is zygote and production of new offspring or progeny or new individual having characteristic-features of the species initiated. This is known as sexual reproduction. If fertilisation does not take place; both the sperm and the egg get degenerated in female reproductive tract. This review article will provide brief introduction of sexual reproduction and more of how sperm and egg recognise each other during fertilisation. 

Abbreviations:

1.A.K.A- Also known as

2. ZP- Zona pellucid

3. EBPs- Egg binding proteins

In mammals, process of sexual reproduction involves several steps. This process begins in the oviduct where motile sperm get attached to the outer layer of egg which is Zona Pellucida (ZP) and results in fusion of egg and sperm plasma membranes to form a single “activated” cell called zygote(2n). During this whole process various events and steps takes place such as a sperm acrosome reaction (a form of cellular exocytosis), penetration of egg ZP by sperm, the egg cortical reaction and the zone reaction.