Calcium in Mitosis: Role of 51-kD Protein in the Centrosome of Sea Urchin Egg in Aster Formation

1989 ◽  
pp. 471-480 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hikoichi Sakai ◽  
Kunihiro Ohta ◽  
Masaru Toriyama ◽  
Sachiko Endo
Keyword(s):  
Sea Urchin ◽  
Sea Urchin Egg

scholarly journals A COMPARATIVE STUDY OF THE ISOLATION OF THE CORTEX AND THE ROLE OF THE CALCIUM-INSOLUBLE PROTEIN IN SEVERAL SPECIES OF SEA URCHIN EGG

1969 ◽  
Vol 41 (1) ◽  
pp. 133-144 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. E. Kane ◽  
R. E. Stephens
Keyword(s):  
Comparative Study ◽  
Sea Urchin ◽  
Protein Composition ◽  
Cortical Region ◽  
Cortical Granules ◽  
Divalent Ions ◽  
Sea Urchin Egg ◽  
Protein Gelation ◽  
Isolated Cortex

A comparative study was made of the isolation of the cortex in the eggs of several sea urchin species. Since the isolation method developed by Sakai depends on the presence of magnesium in the medium, the protein composition of the cortex was investigated to determine whether the protein component of the egg described by Kane and Hersh which is gelled by divalent ions, is present in these cortices. Isolation of the cortex was found to require the same divalent ions at the same concentrations as protein gelation, and in the eggs of some species much of the gel protein of the cell was found in the isolated cortical material. In the eggs of other species a smaller fraction of this protein was found in the isolated cortex, although it was more concentrated there than in the endoplasm, and in one species this protein appeared to be uniformly distributed throughout the cell. These results indicate that this protein is localized in the cortical region of the eggs of some species of sea urchin, possibly in the cortical granules, but also point up the fact that results from one species cannot be uncritically extrapolated to others.

Role of the sea urchin egg receptor for sperm in gamete interactions

1995 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
pp. 29-33 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kay Ohlendieck ◽  
William J. Lennarz
Keyword(s):  
Sea Urchin ◽  
Sea Urchin Egg ◽  
Gamete Interactions

scholarly journals Quantitative studies on the polarization optical properties of living cells II. The role of microtubules in birefringence of the spindle of the sea urchin egg.

1981 ◽  
Vol 89 (1) ◽  
pp. 121-130 ◽  
Author(s):  
Y Hiramoto ◽  
Y Hamaguchi ◽  
Y Shóji ◽  
T E Schroeder ◽  
S Shimoda ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Electron Microscopy ◽  
Sea Urchin ◽  
Preceding Paper ◽  
Living Cells ◽  
Mitotic Apparatus ◽  
Form Birefringence ◽  
Quantitative Studies ◽  
Sea Urchin Egg ◽  
Interpolar Distance

Birefringence of the mitotic apparatus (MA) and its change during mitosis in sea urchin eggs were quantitatively determined using the birefringence detection apparatus reported in the preceding paper (Hiramoto el al., 1981, J. Cell Biol. 89:115-120). The birefringence and the form of the MA are represented by five parameters: peak retardation (delta p), through retardation (delta t), interpolar distance (D1), the distance (D2) between chromosome groups moving toward poles, and the distance (D3) between two retardation peaks. Distributions of birefringence retardation and the coefficient of birefringence in the spindle were quantitatively determined in MAs isolated during metaphase and anaphase. The distribution of microtubules (MTs) contained in the spindle is attributable to the form birefringence caused by regularly arranged MTs. The distribution coincided fairly well with the distribution of MTs in isolated MAs determined by electron microscopy. Under the same assumption, the distribution of MTS in the spindle in living cells during mitosis was determined. The results show that the distribution of MTs and the total amount of polymerized tubulin (MTs) in the spindle change during mitosis, suggesting the assembly and disassembly of MTs as well as the dislocation of MTs during mitosis.

Characterisation and role of integrins during gametic interaction and egg activation

Zygote ◽  
1996 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. 31-40 ◽  
Author(s):  
Céline de Nadai ◽  
Patrick Fenichel ◽  
Michèle Donzeau ◽  
David Epel ◽  
Brigitte Ciapa
Keyword(s):  
Sea Urchin ◽  
Cytoskeletal Proteins ◽  
Human Spermatozoa ◽  
Egg Activation ◽  
Western Blots ◽  
Sea Urchin Egg ◽  
Immunofluorescence Labelling ◽  
Β Chain

SummaryIt has recently been proposed that some of the processes induced by fertilisation in mammals may be mediated by integrins. By peforming immunofluorescence labelling and Western blots with antibodies directed against some of the α and β subunits of integrins, we show here the presence of some of these proteins in human and hamster oocytes. Among them, α2 and α5 were also present on in vitro preparations of sea urchin egg cortices. In addition, antibodies raised against these two proteins were the most effective at inhibiting attachment and fusion of human spermatozoa with hamster oocytes. We suggest that α2 and α5 integrin chains may be common mediators in adhesion-fusion mechanisms triggered by fertilisation. Using similar techniques, we show that eggs are rich three cytoskeletal proteins known to be linked to the β chain of integrins: talin, vinculin and α-actinin. Moreover, we found that talin and α-actinin were associated with proteins phosphorylated on tyrosine after fertilisation in sea urchin eggs. We suggest that integrins might be involved during fertilisation and trigger egg activation through cytoskeletal structures.

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