The molecules of sperm exocytosis

Abstract

Exocytosis is a fundamental process used by eukaryotic cells to release biological compounds and to insert lipids and proteins in the plasma membrane. Specialized secretory cells undergo regulated exocytosis in response to physiological signals. Sperm exocytosis or acrosome reaction (AR) is essentially a regulated secretion with special characteristics. We will focus here on some of these unique features, covering the topology, kinetics and molecular mechanisms that prepare, drive and regulate membrane fusion during the AR. Last, we will compare acrosomal release with exocytosis in other model systems.