The sea urchin egg receptor for sperm

Abstract

The sea urchin egg receptor for sperm represents the first example of a gamete recognition protein residing in the egg plasma membrane, the site of the final species-specific interaction with the sperm. The identification and characterization of this unique transmembrane glycoprotein have led to new questions about the molecular basis of gamete recognition and binding as well as egg activation. This review attempts to define and discuss some of these new questions and to point out and begin to resolve several inconsistencies between the molecular and the biological aspects of fertilization.