Question

What is the role of the acrosome reaction in fertilization?

Answer 1

Acrosome:

1. The acrosome is a special kind of organelle with a cap-like structure that covers the anterior portion of the head of the spermatozoon.
2. The acrosome is derived from the Golgi apparatus and contains digestive enzymes that are essential for fertilization.

2. Role of the acrosome reaction in fertilization:

1. It exposes different hydrolytic enzymes helping the sperm tunnel through the zona pellucida and gives away other proteins on the surface of the sperm which bind to the ZP2 proteins, thus aiding the sperm in maintaining its tight binding to the zona when it burrows through it.
2. Acrosome reaction discloses proteins in the sperm plasma membrane mediating the union and binding of the membrane with the egg.
3. Even though fertilization typically takes place by sperm-egg fusion, another artificial means of achieving it is by injecting sperm into the cytoplasm of the egg.