# ZONA PELLUCIDA ANTIGENS--STRUCTURE AND BIOLOGIC ACTIVITY

> **NIH NIH R01** · WAYNE STATE UNIVERSITY · 1994 · $132,486

## Abstract

The long range objective of the proposed research is the isolation and
characterization of glycoproteins comprising the mammalian egg envelope,
the zona pellucida, with the goal of correlating structures of specific
zona macromolecules with reproductive function.  Sperm-egg interactions in
mammalian species are known to involve recognition of carbohydrate ligands
in the zona pellucida by complementary receptor molecules on the sperm
surface.  The scientific goal of this application is to identify and
characterize the biologically active carbohydrate chains of a sperm
adhesive glycoprotein, ZP3alpha, of the pig zona pellucida.  Biochemical
studies will profile oligosaccharide populations at individual
glycosylation sites.  Oligosaccharides released from purified glycopeptides
by chemical or enzymatic cleavage will be separated by high pH anion
exchange chromatography and structurally characterized by mass
spectrometric methodologies to define site-specific carbohydrate
populations.  The contribution of saccharides to the sperm adhesive
properties of ZP3alpha will be probed by assaying the ligand activity of
ZP3alpha glycopeptides as well as ZP3alpha preparations subjected to
stepwise enzymatic deglycosylation.  Ligand activity will be assessed by
competitive sperm-zona attachment assays as well as by a competitive ligand
binding assay employing immobilized boar sperm membrane vesicles as the
source of receptors and biotinylated ZP3alpha as tracer.  Collectively, the
data obtained will yield new and important information on the structure and
function of mammalian zona glycoproteins, particularly in regard to their
carbohydrate moieties.  Considering common mechanisms of gamete
interactions across species and the immunological and structural
similarities of human and pig zona proteins, such knowledge will contribute
to a better understanding of human reproductive biology as well as the
eventual development of novel approaches to prefertilization contraception
and the diagnosis and treatment of infertility.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 2198783
- **Project number:** 2R01HD023163-04A3
- **Recipient organization:** WAYNE STATE UNIVERSITY
- **SAM.gov UEI:** M6K6NTJ2MNE5
- **Principal Investigator:** EDWARD C YUREWICZ
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 1994
- **Award amount:** $132,486
- **Award type:** 2
- **Project period:** 1987-09-01 → 1997-03-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/2198783

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 2198783, ZONA PELLUCIDA ANTIGENS--STRUCTURE AND BIOLOGIC ACTIVITY (2R01HD023163-04A3). Retrieved via MORVS 2026-10-25 from https://api.morvs.ai/grant/nih/2198783. Licensed CC0.

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