the acrosome reaction- lqc 2b

Question 1

What is the purpose of the acrosome reaction

Answer 1

To digest the zona pellucida to allow the sperm to enter the egg/ovum

Question 2

process of the acrosome reaction

Answer 2

1. The ovum releases chemicals/chemokines which attract sperm
2. Receptors on the head of the sperm binds to the zona pellucida of the ovum
3. The acrosome in the head of the sperm swells , then the acrosome membrane fuses with the sperm cell membrane
4. Hydrolytic/digestive enzymes are released from the acrosome by exocytosis
5. The zona pellucida of the egg is hydrolysed / digested by the enzymes, allowing the sperm head to reach, bind to and fuse with the ovum membrane. Genetic material in the nucleus of one sperm passes through the ovum cell membrane and enters the ovum