SGER: X-ray Crystallographic and Affinity Labeling Analysis of the Structure of Rat Epididymal N-Acetyl-B-D-hexosaminidase: Insight into the Catalytic Mechanism

9804595霍尔博士实验室最近的工作提供的证据表明，哺乳动物精子识别和结合到卵子的细胞涂层称为多透明带(ZP)是由卵子细胞涂层表面的特定糖分子介导的，而且受精过程的这一阶段涉及一种酶，N-乙酰-B-D-己糖胺酶B。他推测，精子酶与卵子糖分子的结合形成了一种酶-糖复合体，该复合体可能调节精子和卵子之间的“紧密”结合。由于目前尚无精子酶的X射线晶体结构，这项研究将进一步加深我们对受精过程这一阶段的理解，即精子-卵子的识别和结合。从这项研究中获得的信息将允许设计和合成特定的糖类似物，这些类似物可能是受精过程的有效抑制物，并导致开发精子导向的男性避孕药。

9804595 Hall Recent work in Dr. Hall's laboratory has provided evidence which suggests that the recognition and binding of mammalian sperm to the cellular coating of an egg called the zona pollucida (ZP) is mediated by specific sugar molecules on the surface of the egg's cellular coating and that an enzyme, N-acetyl-B-D-hexosaminadase B, is involved in this stage of the fertilization process. He postulates that the binding of the sperm enzyme to the egg's sugar molecules forms an enzyme-sugar complex that may mediate the "tight" binding between the sperm and the egg. Since no X-ray crystallographic structure of the sperm enzyme is available, the proposed study would further our understanding of this stage of the fertilization process, namely, sperm-egg recognition and binding. The information acquired from this study would allow the design and synthesis of specific sugar analogs that could be potent inhibitors of the fertilization process and lead to the development of a sperm-directed male contraceptive.