INTRODUCTION

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Membrane fusion is a ubiquitous event in numerous intra- and intercellular processes, such as vesicular trafficking (1, 2) and the infectious entry of viruses (3-5). It also constitutes the committing step that allows sperm and egg to merge their genetic material (6-9). Fertilization has traditionally been studied using sea urchin gametes, and much attention has focused on sperm proteins that become exocytosed upon contact with the egg jelly coat. The major acrosomal protein, bindin, is recognized as a key mediator of sperm-egg adhesion and fusion (10, 11). Its species-specific binding to the egg receptor, presumably via interactions with sulfated polysaccharides (12, 13), has been well documented in vivo and in vitro (14-16). Furthermore, the direct involvement of bindin in the fusion event between the membranes has been suggested from observations with lipid vesicles as model systems (17-21). To unravel the mechanisms underlying sperm-egg fusion and, in particular, to investigate the structure/function relationship of bindin in the overall process, reconstitution would be the approach of choice. However, structural analysis of bindin has been frustrated thus far, because in its native state the protein is extensively self-aggregated within the acrosome vesicle or it is closely associated with the sperm membrane.

Given the interaction of bindin with lipid membranes as well as cell surface carbohydrates, there is much evidence that the protein plays a dual functional role during fertilization. A similar multiple involvement in cell recognition (adhesion or penetration) and fusion has been proposed for other proteins, too, like fertilin (PH-30) (6, 22, 23), abalone sperm proteins (8, 24, 25), or viral proteins (3-5). In many instances, the fusogenic activity of such a protein has been attributed to a short fusion peptide or hydrophobic patch, which could then be characterized in detail with regard to its membrane interactions and secondary structure (22, 23, 26-28). Here, we have identified the minimum membrane binding peptide of the sea urchin fertilization protein bindin, and we investigate its fusogenic and structural behavior in solution and on the membrane. Most experiments with this peptide are directed by the extensive knowledge about the interactions of the native parent protein bindin with its putative binding partners.

Previous work by Glabe and co-workers revealed that native and recombinant bindin binds peripherally to lipid vesicles, presumably as a monomolecular layer (17, 18, 20). Because the protein displays no preference for charged lipid head groups, its association appears to be mediated by hydrophobic interactions (18). An unusual feature is its specific affinity for membranes in the gel phase or enriched in cholesterol (17, 29). Moreover, bindin is able to induce the fusion of lipid vesicles, which proceeds only slowly with dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine/cholesterol but within seconds when sphingomyelin/cholesterol (SM/Chol)¹ is used (19, 21). The enrichment of sphingomyelin and cholesterol in the outer plasma membrane appears to be physiologically significant because of their formation of detergent-insoluble patches (30). Sphingolipids have also been described as relevant for the fusion mechanism of viral proteins (31).

The functionally important interactions of the 24-kDa protein bindin with the membrane are attributed to its highly conserved central domain, consisting of 70-80 amino acids (14, 17, 20, 21). By truncation experiments and using overlapping synthetic peptides of this region, we have located the minimal membrane binding motif "B18" (20, 21). These 18 amino acids (LGLLLRHLRHHSNLLANI) are perfectly conserved among all known sea urchin species, and the sequence bears some resemblance to viral fusion peptides. Interestingly, the same region also appears to participate in receptor binding, and related peptide fragments have been shown to inhibit fertilization in vitro (32, 33). Hence we reasoned that B18 represents an attractive model system to simulate the lipid-protein interactions during fertilization. To this end, we have used fluorescence assays to investigate whether this amphiphilic peptide is capable of inducing vesicle aggregation, membrane fusion, and destabilization, as monitored by lipid mixing and leakage. Specifically, we have examined whether these processes are affected by Zn²⁺, which is found in the native protein and presumably binds to the histidine-rich motif contained in the B18 peptide (34-36). In complementary circular dichroism experiments, structural changes of the peptide were monitored and correlated with its functional features. The results indicate that B18 may be regarded as an appropriate model for various aspects of lipid-protein interactions and membrane fusion during fertilization, because its behavior is in many respects comparable with that of the native protein bindin.

	EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURES

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Synthetic Peptide-- The peptide B18 (LGLLLRHLRHHSNLLANI), numbered here in terms of amino acids 103-120 of mature binin from Strongylocentrotus purpuratus, was synthesized semi-automatically using solid phase resin and Fmoc (N-(9-fluorenyl)methoxycarbonyl) protecting groups (37). The crude peptide was purified by reverse phase high pressure liquid chromatography on a water/acetonitrile gradient with 0.1% trifluoroacetic acid. The purity and mass of the product (2090 g/mol) were checked by electrospray mass spectrometry, and the amount of lyophilized peptide was determined gravimetrically. Stock solutions were prepared by dissolving B18 at typically 1 mM in water, giving a pH of 4 where it is fully soluble and does not self-aggregate, as otherwise slowly occurs at pH > 7.

Buffers-- Buffers for fusion, leakage, and aggregation assays were made with 10 mM HEPES (usually pH 7.4), Bis-tris propane, or acetate. They contained 140 mM NaCl unless salt effects were to be examined. CD measurements were carried out without salt to avoid distortion in the far-UV. Stock solutions of ZnCl₂, CuCl₂, CoCl₂, CaCl₂, MgCl₂ (or the corresponding SO₄² salts for CD), and EDTA were prepared at 5-50 mM in ultrapure water.

Vesicle Preparation-- Bovine brain SM and the fluorescently labeled phospholipids N-(7-nitrobenz-2-oxa-1,3-diazol-4-yl)phosphatidylethanolamine (N-NBD-PE) and N-(lissamine rhodamine B sulfonyl)phosphatidylethanolamine (N-Rh-PE) were obtained from Avanti Polar Lipids. Chol was purchased from Sigma, and the fluorescent probes 8-amino-naphtalene-1,3,6-trisulfonic acid sodium salt (ANTS) and p-xylenebis(pyridinium)bromide (DPX) were obtained from Molecular Probes (Leiden, The Netherlands). Liposomes were prepared by co-dissolving 80/20 SM/Chol (mol/mol) in CHCl₃, together with 0.8 mol % of each of the fluorescent lipids when required for fusion assays. The mixture was dried under N₂ and resuspended in buffer at a final lipid concentration of approximately 4 mM by vortexing, followed by 10 freeze-thaw cycles using 50 °C warm water (38). A uniform population of large unilamellar vesicles (LUV) was obtained by repeated high pressure extrusion (Lipex extruder from Biomembranes, Vancouver, Canada) of the liposomes through a polycarbonate Unipore membrane (pore size, 100 nm; Millipore) at a temperature above the gel-to-fluid phase transition (45 °C). For contents leakage experiments (39), solutions of ANTS (25 mM in 90 mM NaCl, 10 mM Tris, adjusted to pH 7.4) and DPX (90 mM in 50 mM NaCl, 10 mM Tris) were mixed at a 1:1 ratio. The combined solution was added to the dried lipids, subjected to 10 freeze-thaw cycles, and then extruded, keeping the material in the dark. To remove unencapsulated dye, the vesicles were washed right before the experiment by gel filtration on a Sephadex G75 column using a 150 mM HEPES/NaCl elution buffer, which balances the internal vesicle osmolarity. The exact lipid concentration of each LUV stock was determined by phosphate analysis (40).

Lipid Mixing Assay-- Peptide-induced lipid mixing between SM/Chol vesicles was followed by monitoring the relief of fluorescence resonance energy transfer between NBD-PE and Rh-PE (9, 41). The time dependence of fluorescence was monitored with 1-s resolution on a spectrofluorimeter (SLM, Aminco Bowman Series 2 Luminescence, Urbana) at excitation and emission wavelengths of 465 and 530 nm, respectively. The temperature was maintained at 30 °C (unless stated otherwise) in a thermostated cuvette holder equipped with a magnetic stirrer. The labeled vesicles were suspended in a final incubation volume of 2 ml buffer together with a 3-fold excess of nonlabeled vesicles, giving a total lipid concentration of 200 µM. Fusion between the vesicles was followed upon adding the peptide, metal ions, or EDTA from their stock solutions with a Hamilton microsyringe. Most experiments were carried out with a peptide concentration of 5 or 10 µM and a Zn²⁺ concentration of 40 µM to induce fusion or 60 µM to induce aggregation. The fluorescence scale was calibrated by setting the base line of the initial background signal to 0%. Infinite probe dilution, corresponding to 100% fluorescence, was determined after disrupting the vesicles in 0.5% (v/v) Triton X-100. The initial rate of fusion was analyzed by curve-fitting the signal with the Enzfitter software and expressed as the percentage of fluorescence increase (relative to the level obtained upon infinite dilution) per second (% max/s).

Leakage of Vesicle Contents-- The release of aqueous contents from the LUVs was monitored by the fluorescence dequenching of ANTS by DPX (42), both entrapped in the SM/Chol vesicles as described above. For resonance energy transfer measurements, the ANTS excitation was set at 284 nm, and emission was set at 530 nm. Sample concentrations, experimental conditions, and data analysis were the same as in the lipid mixing assay above.

Vesicle Aggregation Assay-- Aggregation of the LUVs was monitored by turbidity measurements. The absorbance at 400 nm was recorded on a thermostated Hamamatsu spectrophotometer, using conditions as for lipid mixing and leakage. The rates of aggregation were calculated from the initial slope of the curves as the change in absorbance per minute (A/min). The distribution of the diameters of the initial LUVs and of the aggregated/fused vesicles were measured on a Nicomb particle size analyzer (model 370).

Circular Dichroism Spectroscopy-- CD spectra were recorded with a Jasco 710 spectropolarimeter over the wavelength range from 185 to 250 nm (43) The temperature was maintained at 5 °C, the scan rate was 50 nm/min, the step resolution was 0.5, the response time was 1 s, and 5-10 runs were accumulated per spectrum. The peptide was measured at pH 7.5, using different concentrations of 5 µM B18 in 0.5 mM HEPES, 50 µM B18 in 5 mM HEPES, or 500 µM B18 in 50 mM HEPES in a 10-, 1-, or 0.1-mm cuvette, respectively.

Electrospray Mass Spectrometry-- Noncovalent interactions of the peptide with various metal ions were investigated on samples of 50 µM B18 in 250 µM NH₄HCO₃ buffer at pH 9.0. Metal ions were added at a ratio of 1:1 or 8:1, respectively, to B18. In view of the tendency of B18 to aggregate at this pH, fresh samples were prepared for each measurement.

	RESULTS

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Interaction of the Peptide with SM/Chol Vesicles-- As shown in Fig. 1, the peptide B18 induces vesicle aggregation and lipid mixing when added to large unilamellar vesicles consisting of SM/Chol (80/20). For these effects, Zn²⁺ must be included in the incubation medium. This divalent cation is known to be contained in the native bindin protein under physiological conditions (11, 32). Furthermore, the data show that vesicle leakage occurs upon peptide binding, which interestingly does not require the presence of Zn²⁺, unlike aggregation and fusion.

View larger version (46K): [in this window] [in a new window]   Fig. 1.   Light scattering and fluorescence dequenching data, illustrating the ability of the peptide to induce aggregation (panels A-C), lipid mixing (panels D-F), and leakage (panels G-I) of large unilamellar SM/Chol (80/20) vesicles. The addition of B18 is indicated by an arrow labeled B, the addition of Zn2+ is indicated by an arrow labeled Z, the addition of EDTA is indicated by an arrow labeled E, and the final disruption of vesicles with Triton X-100 is marked with an asterisk. The particle size distribution curves (panel C) are labeled correspondingly.

View larger version (17K): [in this window] [in a new window]   Fig. 2.   The rates of B18-Zn2+-induced fusion (solid line) and vesicle aggregation (dotted line) show an optimum with pH (A) and with temperature (B).

Interaction of the Peptide with Zn²⁺-- To further define the role of Zn²⁺ in the B18-induced vesicle aggregation and fusion process, its concentration dependence was examined in Fig. 3. With increasing amounts of Zn²⁺, the rates of fusion (Fig. 3A) and aggregation (Fig. 3B) are initially found to increase, as expected. After passing through a maximum, however, the activity of the peptide decreases again, suggesting that it becomes blocked by excess Zn²⁺. To check whether the interaction between Zn²⁺ and B18 is influenced by the law of mass action, we measured the Zn²⁺ dependence of lipid mixing and aggregation at 5 and 10 µM peptide concentration, respectively (Fig. 3, A and B). Within error limits, the amount of Zn²⁺ required for a maximum response is independent of peptide concentration. Note, however, that more Zn²⁺ is required for optimum aggregation than for optimum fusion, suggesting that the Zn²⁺-B18 complexes involved in aggregation and fusion are not necessarily identical.

View larger version (16K): [in this window] [in a new window]   Fig. 3.   The rates of B18-Zn2+-induced lipid mixing (A) and vesicle aggregation (B) depend critically on the concentration of Zn2+. Each series of measurements was carried out for two different peptide concentrations of 5 (open symbols) and 10 µM (filled symbols).

View larger version (19K): [in this window] [in a new window]   Fig. 4.   The rates of B18-Zn2+-induced lipid mixing (solid line) and vesicle aggregation (dotted line) are plotted as a function of peptide concentration (A), using 200 µM total lipid. For comparison, leakage is also included in the A as a dotted line, and the same data are displayed on an expanded scale underneath (B), both in the presence (filled symbols) and in the absence (open symbols) of Zn2+.

Interaction of the Peptide with Other Ions-- The ability of Zn²⁺ to trigger vesicle aggregation and lipid mixing is attributed to its interaction with the histidine side chains of the peptide. To further define the specificity and the functional consequences of this complex, electrospray mass spectrometry was used to check whether the peptide could also bind to any other metal ions, such as Cu²⁺, Co²⁺, Mg²⁺, Ca²⁺, and Na⁺. Only the transition elements gave a positive signal at the combined mass of the peptide plus metal ion, which reverted to the peptide mass alone under acidic denaturing conditions. This confirms that, next to Zn²⁺, the peptide can also form a complex with Cu²⁺ and Co²⁺. However, in contrast to Zn²⁺, neither Cu²⁺ nor Co²⁺ was able to stimulate the peptide to induce vesicle aggregation or fusion. More significant still is the observation that leakage, which is caused by the peptide per se (Fig. 1D) is suppressed in the presence of either Cu²⁺ or Co²⁺ (data not shown). Therefore, binding of Cu²⁺ or Co²⁺ has different structural and functional consequences on B18 than the binding of Zn²⁺.

View larger version (19K): [in this window] [in a new window]   Fig. 5.   To illustrate the binding affinities of various ions to B18, fusion is triggered as usual by the addition of 10 µM B18 and 40 µM Zn2+ (or 60 µM Zn2+ for aggregation). In A, increasing concentrations of Cu2+ (filled circle), Co2+ (filled triangle), or excess Zn2+ (dotted line) are present in the incubation solution. B shows the inhibitory effect of EDTA on the rates of fusion (solid line) and aggregation (dotted line).

Structural Consequences of Ion Binding-- For vesicle aggregation and fusion to occur, a specific Zn²⁺-mediated assembly of B18 has to take place, as documented above. To determine the structural features of this complex, the conformation of the peptide and its tendency to oligomerize were investigated by circular dichroism. Because sphingomyelin gives a pronounced CD signal at wavelengths below 220 nm, measurements were carried out with the peptide alone in aqueous solution in the absence of any lipid. The peptide tends to self-aggregate slowly when kept as a millimolar solution above pH 7, but samples were prepared freshly from an acidic stock. Under these conditions, B18 is well soluble and largely unstructured at pH 7.5, even at a concentration of 500 µM. CD measurements revealed a slight increase in "secondary structure" over the pH range from 3.0 to 9.0, which amounts to less than 10% as judged by the signal amplitude at 222 nm (data not shown).

View larger version (23K): [in this window] [in a new window]   Fig. 6.   Circular dichroism reveals the structural changes of B18 (500 µM) that are induced by Zn2+ (panels A and B) and Cu2+ (panel C). The addition of Zn2+ initially leads to the formation of a partially -helical B18-Zn2+ complex (panel A), followed by precipitation (panel B). The binding of Cu2+, on the other hand, induces a -turn in the peptide (panel C) and is also followed by precipitation (not shown).

	DISCUSSION

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We have demonstrated that the peptide B18 is able to induce aggregation and fusion of uncharged lipid vesicles, thus mimicking the function of its parent protein bindin. The native sea urchin acrosomal sperm protein (236 amino acids) is supposedly involved in sperm-egg adhesion as well as membrane fusion during fertilization (10, 11), and its interactions with lipid vesicles have been well characterized (17-20). Here, we describe some remarkably similar interactions of the 18-amino acid peptide B18, which may be relevant for the peripheral anchoring of bindin onto the acrosomal membrane and which may even play a role in the fusion event between sperm and oocyte. Both the peptide and the protein display a high affinity toward SM/Chol vesicles (21), which may represent the acrosomal sperm membrane and possibly the egg membrane. Like bindin, B18 is also able to trigger the aggregation and fusion of artificial model membranes (19, 21). This functional property of the peptide is exclusively expressed in a Zn²⁺-dependent manner. Similarly, the native fertilization protein is known to contain one equivalent of this particular cation (32).

To gain further insight into the mechanism of fusion, multiple interactions need to be taken into account between all the participating molecules in this model system, namely the B18 peptide, Zn²⁺ cations, and SM/Chol vesicles. First, the membrane binding mode of the peptide per se requires some attention. We found that B18 destabilizes the bilayer and causes substantial leakage from the large unilamellar vesicles (Fig. 1G). The high affinity for the uncharged lipid must be attributed to hydrophobic interactions, rather than an initial long range electrostatic attraction. Although the amphiphilic peptide carries two positively charged arginines in its center, many hydrophobic side chains are clustered at each end of the molecule (Fig. 7A). There is some indication that leakage may proceed as a cooperative event (Fig. 4B) (28).

View larger version (28K): [in this window] [in a new window]   Fig. 7.   Summary of the interactions of B18 with different ions and with the membrane. In A, the local conformation around the histidine-rich motif is correlated with fusogenic activity, showing the putative side chains involved in complex formation. The schematic picture (B) illustrates the postulated sequence of events involved in membrane fusion. Following the accumulation of B18 at the membrane surface, which is accompanied by leakage, the vesicles become aggregated via a trans-complex. This active fusion intermediate presumably consist of a Zn2+ bridge that connects two peptides on apposing surfaces.

Upon binding to the lipid vesicles, the peptide is able to trigger their aggregation and fusion, but for these activities it needs to be stimulated by Zn²⁺ (Fig. 1E). Before evaluating the ternary membrane system, first consider the peptide-Zn²⁺ interactions in the absence of any lipid vesicles. Our CD analysis showed that Zn²⁺ induces a partially -helical conformation of B18 and leads to the formation of oligomeric metallo-peptide complexes. The coordination must involve the histidine residues of the motif HLRHH, but their spacing is too close to allow all three side chains to bind simultaneously to a single Zn²⁺ ion. Therefore, we suggest by analogy with metal binding sites in other proteins that initially only the first (His¹⁰⁹) and the last histidine (His¹¹³) bind a Zn²⁺ ion on one face of the peptide, as schematically illustrated in Fig. 7A. This picture is implicated by the fact that positions i and i + 4 are suitably spaced to induce the -helical structure observed (Fig. 6A), i.e. like a zinc finger (43-36). In this particular conformation, the leucine side chain Leu¹¹⁰ would be exposed at the helix surface, which may force it to insert into the lipid bilayer (when present) or seek any other available hydrophobic environment. Our analysis of the peptide-Zn²⁺ binding is consistent with an assembly of soluble dimeric complexes, which is then followed by further oligomerization and precipitation. The initial 2:1 stoichiometry supports the picture that a dimeric B18-Zn²⁺-B18 complex is assembled around a central ion, involving His¹⁰⁹ and His¹¹³ on each peptide. In the presence of excess Zn²⁺, it is conceivable that the remaining histidine (His¹¹²) participates in further Zn²⁺ bridges, which link up the dimeric complexes and lead to the formation of a 1:1 precipitate of (B18-Zn²⁺)_n.

A key step in vesicle aggregation and fusion must be the assembly process or the resulting molecular conformation of the peptide-Zn²⁺ oligomers in the presence of the membrane. Complex formation in solution was found to be favored only at high peptide concentration (500 µM B18), whereas vesicle fusion was accomplished with much lower amounts (typically 10 µM). Apparently, the membrane recruits the water-soluble peptides from the bulk solution, and the high local concentration promotes their self-assembly with Zn²⁺ either near the vesicle surface or once they are partially immersed in the bilayer. As indicated above (Fig. 1H), the peptide interacts with the membrane almost instantaneously, and leakage is even more pronounced in the presence of Zn²⁺. The binding of Zn²⁺ appears to promote a fusogenic peptide conformation, possibly by cross-linking the monomers to one another. By analogy to the mechanism of Ca²⁺-induced fusion of acidic phospholipid vesicles (41), we suggest that a so-called "trans-complex" may be formed between two apposing membranes. As illustrated in Fig. 7B, a central Zn²⁺ ion may be complexed from either side by two B18 molecules that are associated with separate vesicles. Part of the function of such a membrane-bound complex would be to mediate vesicle aggregation. The subsequent fusion process will then be facilitated through the concerted destabilization of the bilayers by the hydrophobic side chains. In Fig. 7B we have drawn the peptide in the Zn²⁺ complex with a partially helical structure, based on the CD data in solution. On the other hand, we have no information about its conformation when bound to the membrane on its own without Zn²⁺. Neither does this drawing take into account the possibility that Zn²⁺ bridges may also form between peptides in-plane of the membrane rather than between apposing vesicles.

Various additional observations underscore the specificity and subtlety of the Zn²⁺-Bl8 complex formed, which is involved in the actual fusion step. At a fixed peptide concentration, titration experiments demonstrate that fusion and aggregation are inhibited by excess Zn²⁺ (Fig. 3). Similarly, preincubation of B18 with Zn²⁺ reduces their combined fusion activity. We thus conclude that the dimeric B18-Zn²⁺-B18 complex is the active fusogenic agent, whereas further oligomerization deteriorates its potency. The saturation of all histidine residues with Zn²⁺ or the formation of extended oligomeric chains may sterically interfere with the membrane fusion process. Apparently, an excess of Zn²⁺ has a less perturbing effect on aggregation than on fusion, and vesicular aggregates as part of the fusion complex could be dispersed again with EDTA (Fig. 1C).

When the histidine residues are deprotonated, the peptide can bind to various transition metal ions, which eventually leads to precipitation. B18 also tends to aggregate slowly by itself in solution. Yet, peptide aggregation or complex formation per se do not provide the molecular specificity or the necessary kinetics required for membrane fusion. In contrast to Zn²⁺, the addition of Cu²⁺ or Co²⁺ to B18 does not induce any vesicle aggregation or fusion. On the contrary, Cu²⁺ and Co²⁺ compete rapidly and efficiently with Zn²⁺, and their mere presence in the incubation mix inhibits the Zn²⁺-induced membrane fusion (Fig. 5A). In solution, the peptide is folded by Cu²⁺ into a local -turn (Fig. 6C). We therefore suggest that the initial binding site may be different for Cu²⁺ than for Zn²⁺. It very likely involves the histidine pair His¹⁰⁹ and His¹¹², whose spacing i and i + 3 is characteristic of metal binding sites with a -turn (Fig. 7A) (34-36).

A similar conformational or steric block appears to be the reason why EDTA prevents the interaction of B18 with the membrane (Fig. 1I) and actively inhibits fusion (Fig. 5B). A bidentate complex between EDTA and the two arginine side chains (Arg¹⁰⁸ and Arg¹¹¹) would be entropically favored and energetically stabilized by hydrogen-bonded interactions between the guanido- and carboxyl-groups (Fig. 7A). Such binding mode was in fact proposed to explain the adhesion of bindin to the sulfate esters of certain cell surface polysaccharides on the putative sea urchin bindin receptor (12, 13). Remarkably, a nonapeptide (LRHLRHHSN), derived from B18 with the same arginine/histidine motif, was shown to be a potent inhibitor of fertilization in vitro, and it expressed its optimum binding affinity only in the presence of Zn²⁺ (32). These two observations, namely (a) that B18 requires Zn²⁺ to trigger membrane fusion and (b) that the related nonapeptide requires Zn²⁺ to bind to the sulfate groups of cell surface carbohydrates, emphasize the specific structural role of this ion to promote an active local conformation in the peptide backbone. The function of the conserved protein domain around the sequence of B18 thus appears to be involved in the binding of several partners, i.e. the Zn²⁺ cation, the acrosomal membrane, and the egg cell receptor.

Finally, it is remarkable that fusion occurs at all with the SM/Chol model membranes, given that they are not in the fluid phase but in a liquid ordered state. A similar gel phase preference has also been reported for the vesicle binding and fusion activity of the native fertilization protein with other lipids (17, 29). A broad transition temperature range was determined for the mixed SM/Chol system used here, with a maximum at 40 °C. Nevertheless, the optimum for B18-induced fusion co-incides with the onset of the phase transition of pure SM around 30 °C (Fig. 2B). Accordingly, it is tempting to suggest that B18-mediated fusion may be accomplished via its interaction with locally enriched SM domains in the mixed SM/Chol bilayers (30, 31). Because the lipid packing is strongly perturbed during the melting process, this would favor any local or temporary peptide penetration. In line with numerous previous studies concerned with structural features of fusogenic synthetic or natural peptides, penetration into the bilayer is particularly facilitated by a helical structure (26, 44). Indeed, B18 tends to assume a partially -helical conformation in the presence of Zn²⁺, at least in the aqueous environment where we could study complex formation directly by CD. Peptide self-assembly as a mechanism for membrane perturbation and fusion has also been described in the literature, when it involves a -sheet structure (22, 23, 28). Oligomerization is in fact a recognized feature in the fusion mechanism of viral proteins, which may even involve the hydrophobic fusion peptides once they get exposed (3-5, 27). Here, we have described a Zn²⁺-mediated self-assembly of B18, which correlates with its fusogenic activity.

In summary, the minimum membrane-binding peptide B18, derived from the sperm protein bindin, represents an attractive model system to study lipid-protein interactions during fertilization. Membrane binding, adhesion to sulfated polysaccharides, and self-association appear to be regulated by the formation of specific metallo-complexes, which in turn determine the local protein conformation. The functionality of the full size protein will surely depend on numerous other factors that are not accessible by this model. Fusion between sperm and egg, for instance, is presumably a nonleaky process, but the peptide induces substantial perturbations on the membrane. Neither can the mechanism of species-specific recognition be addressed using the short conserved B18 sequence. Nevertheless, our studies reveal the very likely involvement of this peptide in membrane binding. Whether it acts as a genuine fusion peptide or simply serves as a peripheral membrane anchor remains to be established. The possibility of mimicking at least some functional aspects of bindin by a simple peptide will allow us to obtain more detailed structural and functional insight into its role in fertilization.