New Studies Reveal Protein Complex in Sperm-Egg Fusion, Aided by AlphaFold

Oct 18, 2024, 03:00 AM

Two new studies have independently identified a complex of three proteins that sits on the head of a sperm and locks onto the surface of an egg cell during fertilization. The proteins, Izumo1, Spaca6, and Tmem81, interact with Juno on the egg's surface to bridge sperm and egg. This discovery, aided by AlphaFold, reveals the molecular mechanism of fertilization in vertebrates. The findings, published in Cell, could unlock new insights into fertility.