Structural analysis of peptide-analogues of human Zona Pellucida ZP1 protein with amyloidogenic properties: insights into mammalian Zona Pellucida formation.

ABSTRACT: Zona pellucida (ZP) is an extracellular matrix surrounding and protecting mammalian and fish oocytes, which is responsible for sperm binding. Mammalian ZP consists of three to four glycoproteins, called ZP1, ZP2, ZP3, ZP4. These proteins polymerize into long interconnected filaments, through a common structural unit, known as the ZP domain, which consists of two domains, ZP-N and ZP-C. ZP is related in function to silkmoth chorion and in an evolutionary fashion to the teleostean fish chorion, also fibrous structures protecting the oocyte and embryo, that both have been proven to be functional amyloids. Two peptides were predicted as 'aggregation-prone' by our prediction tool, AMYLPRED, from the sequence of the human ZP1-N domain. Here, we present results from transmission electron microsco

SUBMITTER: Louros NN 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3772061 | biostudies-literature | 2013

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature