Acrosome Biogenesis and Male Fertility Mechanisms
Summary
The acrosome is a specialised, cap-shaped organelle that forms over the anterior portion of a developing sperm head and stores hydrolytic enzymes essential for penetrating the egg’s protective investments. Acrosome biogenesis commences during spermiogenesis, when Golgi-derived pro-acrosomal vesicles coalesce, traffic along cytoskeletal scaffolds and fuse to generate a single acrosomal granule. This process is orchestrated by coordinated membrane sorting, vesicle transport and cytoskeletal remodelling, including contributions from the acroplaxome and manchette structures. Perturbations in these events can lead to morphological defects such as globozoospermia, impaired sperm–zona pellucida interaction and reduced fertilisation competence. Beyond enzyme storage, the acrosome also contributes to shaping the sperm nucleus and head morphology, with signalling pathways—such as PI3K/AKT/mTOR-associated autophagy—recently implicated in modulating acrosomal assembly and manchette dynamics. Understanding the molecular regulators of acrosome formation has broad implications for diagnosing and treating male infertility, for developing novel contraceptives and for optimising assisted-reproductive technologies globally.
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Acrosome Biogenesis and Male Fertility Mechanisms publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in acrosome biogenesis and male fertility mechanisms across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Acrosome: A cap-like, enzyme-filled organelle located at the anterior of the sperm head, derived from Golgi-originated vesicles and essential for zona pellucida penetration.
Spermiogenesis: The final phase of spermatogenesis during which round spermatids undergo morphological and biochemical transformations to become mature spermatozoa.
Acroplaxome: A cytoskeletal plate of F-actin and keratin that anchors the developing acrosomal membrane to the nucleus during head shaping.
Manchette: A transient microtubule- and actin-based skirt structure that surrounds the elongating spermatid nucleus, guiding organelle transport and nuclear shaping.
Pro-acrosomal vesicle: Membrane-bound carriers budding from the Golgi apparatus that deliver acrosomal enzymes and structural components to form the acrosome.
Lysosome-related organelle: A specialised compartment sharing biogenetic pathways with lysosomes, exemplified by the acrosome’s enzyme content and membrane composition.
References
- CCDC28A deficiency causes sperm head defects, reduced sperm motility and male infertility in mice. Cellular and Molecular Life Sciences (2024).
- Loss of ACTL7A causes small head sperm by defective acrosome-acroplaxome-manchette complex. Reproductive Biology and Endocrinology (2023).
- Inceptor facilitates acrosomal vesicle formation in spermatids and is required for male fertility. Frontiers in Cell and Developmental Biology (2023).
- Mechanism of Acrosome Biogenesis in Mammals. Frontiers in Cell and Developmental Biology (2019).
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