Abalone lysin: the dissolving and evolving sperm protein

Abstract

Abalone sperm lysin is a non-enzymatic protein that creates a hole for sperm passage in the envelope surrounding the egg. Lysin exhibits species-specificity in making the hole and it evolves rapidly by positive selection. Our studies have focused on combining structural, biochemical, and evolutionary data to understand the mechanism of action and evolution of this remarkable protein. Currently, more is known about lysin than about any other protein involved in animal fertilization. We present an hypothesis to explain lysin's rapid evolution and the evolution of species-specific fertilization in this order of mollusks. We also propose a two-step model for lysin's action in which a dimer of lysin binds species-specifically to its glycoprotein receptor, and then monomerizes and binds the receptor in a non-species-specific manner. This experimental system yields data relevant to the general problem of molecular recognition between cell surfaces, and is also important to our thinking about how new species arise in the sea. BioEssays 23:95-103, 2001.

Characterization of the transcriptomes ofHaliotis rufescensreproductive tissues

“…Abalone lysin and fertilization protein (18kDa protein) are acrosomal proteins that are released and bind to VERL and VEZPD14 receptors present in oocytes (Kresge et al . ; Aagaard et al . ).…”

“…Similar results were obtained using RT‐PCR for the HADMRT1 gene in male Haliotis asinina (Koopman, ). Others genomic studies have analysed the expression of the proteins involved in gamete interaction, such as lysin , vitelline‐coat lysin ( VCL ) and vitelline envelop receptor lysin ( VERL ) (Sedik, Dempsey, Meng & Craft , Kresge, Vacquier & Stout ; Aagaard, Vacquier, MacCoss & Swason ).…”

Natural Hybridization in the Sea Urchin Genus Pseudoboletia Between Species Without Apparent Barriers to Gamete Recognition

“…In the past 20 years, examples of rapid evolution of gamete recognition proteins and the associated evolution of reproductive isolation between species have been discovered. The best studied are lysin in abalones (reviewed by Kresge et al 2001) and bindin in sea urchins (reviewed by Zigler 2008), although other examples are known in oysters (Moy et al 2008; Springer et al 2008), mussels (Riginos and MacDonald 2003; Riginos et al 2006; Springer and Crespi 2007), and teguline snails (Hellberg and Vacquier 1999; Hellberg et al 2000). The mechanisms causing rapid evolution of these molecules are not always clear, and may vary across molecules and organisms (Zigler 2008; Lessios 2012).…”

Rapid Evolution of Asymmetric Reproductive Incompatibilities in Stalk‐eyed Flies

“…The most convincing evidence of reproductive barriers evolving by noncompetitive gametic isolation is from sperm–egg incompatibilities in externally spawning organisms. Studies of the evolution of sperm and egg recognition molecules in abalones have found that these molecules are highly species specific and evolve rapidly by positive selection (Kresge et al ). In species with internal fertilization, males must transfer sperm that successfully achieve fertilization and incompatibilities can arise in additional ways.…”