Practice question

Sperm head contains specialized organelle housing hydrolytic enzymes for egg investment penetration. Derived from Golgi, acrosome forms cap over nucleus filled with hyaluronidase digesting cumulus hyaluronic acid, acrosin serine protease and acid hydrolases cleaving zona glycoproteins. Calcium-triggered fusion of outer acrosomal membrane with plasma membrane during acrosome reaction releases enzymes focally at sperm-egg interface, creating path through zona. Inner acrosomal membrane retained displays secondary binding proteins. Therefore acrosome provides essential enzymatic toolkit for breaching maternal investments surrounding oocyte, reaching plasmalemma, permitting membrane merger, activation and zygote formation.