Glycosaminoglycan Stimulation of the In Vitro Conversion of Boar Proacrosin into Acrosin

Abstract

Glycosaminoglycans obtained from shark cartilage, whale cartilage, porcine intestinal mucosa, porcine skin, and human umbilical cord were found to accelerate the in vitro conversion of highly purified boar sperm proacrosin Into m α ‐acrosin. Since none of the glycosaminoglycan preparations demonstrated esterase activity (BzArgOEt), general proteinase activity (Azocoll), or stimulation of acrosin activity, the glycosaminoglycan stimulation of proacrosin conversion into acrosin results from a direct Interaction between proacrosin and the glycosaminoglycans. These results demonstrate that the glycosaminoglycan stimulation of proacrosin conversion into acrosin is a general phenomenon that is not speciesor organspecific and indicate that glycosaminoglycans could function in the regulation of the In vivo conversion of proacrosin into acrosin.