The Hinge Region of Bovine Zona Pellucida Glycoprotein ZP3 Is Involved in the Formation of the Sperm-Binding Active ZP3/ZP4 Complex

The zona pellucida (ZP) surrounds the mammalian oocyte and mediates species-selective sperm-oocyte interactions.Bovine ZP consists of glycoproteins ZP2, ZP3, and ZP4.Neither ZP3 nor ZP4 alone shows inhibitory activity for the binding of sperm to the ZP; however, this activity is seen with the ZP3/ZP4 heterocomplex.Here, we constructed a series of b

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