Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: http://hdl.handle.net/1959.13/804292

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Title
Ca²⁺oscillations and the cell cycle at fertilisation of mammalian and ascidian eggs
Author/Creator
Nixon, Victoria L.;  McDougall, Alex;  Jones, Keith T.
Description
At fertilisation of mammalian and ascidian eggs the sperm induces a series of Ca²⁺ oscillations. These Ca²⁺ oscillations are triggered by a sperm-borne Ca²⁺-releasing factor whose identity is still unresolved. In both mammals and ascidians Ca²⁺ oscillations in eggs are associated with the period leading up to exit from meiosis and entry into the first embryonic cell cycle. Thus, in mammals Ca²⁺ oscillations continue for several hours but are complete by within 30 min in the ascidian. In mammals and ascidians Ca²⁺ oscillations stop at around the time when pronuclei form in the 1-cell embryo. There is evidence to show that cell cycle factors are important in regulating the fertilisation Ca²⁺ signal. If the formation of pronuclei is blocked either in mammals (by spindle disruption) or in ascidians (by clamping maturation promoting factor levels high) then Ca²⁺ oscillations continue indefinitely. Here, we explore the nature of the sperm Ca²⁺-releasing factor and examine the relationship between cell cycle resumption and the control of Ca²⁺ oscillations at fertilisation.
Relation
Biology of the Cell Vol. 92, Issue 3-4, p. 187-196
Publisher Link
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0248-4900(00)01068-6
Date
2000
Publisher
Portland Press
Keyword(s)
egg;  cell cycle;  fertilisation;  calcium
Resource Type
journal article
Identifier
http://hdl.handle.net/1959.13/804292
Identifier
ISSN:0248-4900
Language
eng
Reviewed
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Subject
"Biology of the Cell"
 
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