Maria-Elisa Perotti

TL;DR: These findings for the first time show the in vivo expression in insects of genes encoding beta-N-acetylhexosaminidases, the only molecules so far identified as involved in sperm/egg recognition in this class, whereas in mammals, the organisms where these enzymes have been best studied, only two types of polypeptide chains forming dimeric functional beta- N-acetyhexosamidases are present.

TL;DR: Results strongly suggest that in Drosophila the β‐N‐acetylglucosaminidase of the plasma membrane covering the acrosome functions as a receptor for the glycoconjugates on the egg surface, the first evidence for an egg/sperm recognition system in insects.

TL;DR: The glycosidases of Drosophila melanogaster spermatozoa have been purified and characterized and it is shown that HEX 1 and HEX 2 are dimers formed by subunits with different molecular sizes, whereas alpha-mannosidases appear to differ from each other.

TL;DR: It is suggested that the carrageenan formulation blocks cell trafficking of macrophages from vagina and that blocking does not result from cytotoxicity, which may help to prevent sexual transmission of HIV.

TL;DR: The α‐L‐fucosidase of Drosophila sperm plasma membrane appears to be potentially involved in gamete recognition by interacting with its glycoside ligands present on the egg surface at the site of sperm entry.