Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Yoshitaka Fujihara, Sarah Herberg, Andreas Blaha, Karin Panser, Kiyonori Kobayashi, Tamara Larasati, Maria Novatchkova, Hans-Christian Theussl, Olga Olszanska, Masahito Ikawa, Andrea Pauli
Summary: Fertilization is a crucial process initiating new individual development in sexually reproducing species. SPACA4, a sperm protein, is essential for efficient fertilization in mammals like mice, particularly for interactions with the zona pellucida. Its absence leads to subfertility in male knockout mice, with fertilization rescue observed when the zona pellucida is removed during in vitro experiments.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Emily E. Killingbeck, Damien B. Wilburn, Gennifer E. Merrihew, Michael J. MacCoss, Willie J. Swanson
Summary: The study reveals that the egg coats of threespine stickleback fish are made up of homologs to zona pellucida (ZP) proteins, with ZP3 undergoing positive Darwinian selection across teleosts. Despite broad homology with mammalian ZP proteins, there are differences in glycosylation, disulfide bonding, and sites of synthesis, indicating evolutionary changes in the protective functional role of stickleback egg coats.
MOLECULAR REPRODUCTION AND DEVELOPMENT
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Roberto Matassa, Marta Gatti, Martina Crociati, Roberto Brunelli, Ezio Battaglione, Massimiliano Papi, Marco De Spirito, Stefania Annarita Nottola, Giuseppe Familiari
Summary: The ability of branched glycoprotein filaments to change their hierarchical organization through external stimuli expands understanding of self-assembling strategies that can rearrange networks. This research focuses on the morpho-structural changes of the zona pellucida and its self-assembled filament networks, revealing controlled levels of structured organizations during different stages of oocyte development. The changes are regulated by the nanostructured polymorphisms of the branched filaments and controlled by self-extension/-contraction/-bending processes.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Seulgi Mun, Mi Young Noh, Erika R. Geisbrecht, Karl J. Kramer, Subbaratnam Muthukrishnan, Yasuyuki Arakane
Summary: Chitin deacetylases (CDAs) play a crucial role in arthropod locomotion and muscle attachment. Depletion of CDAs results in tendon cuticle breakage, muscle detachment, and defective locomotion. Furthermore, CDA deficiency leads to disrupted microtubule development, loss of adhesion junctions, and abnormal morphology of tendon cells.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2022)
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Ivan Valdebenito, Elias Figueroa, Matias Valdebenito, Luis Paiva
Summary: The study characterized different chorion alterations observed in samples collected from salmon and trout farms in southern Chile over a period of 14 years. Soft chorion was identified as the most common alteration, primarily affecting Atlantic and Coho Salmon. Rainbow Trout exhibited fewer chorion alterations compared to the other two species. Results suggest that these alterations may be linked to changes in environmental conditions affecting the incubation water.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Hiroki Okumura, Ayaka Mizuno, Eri Iwamoto, Rio Sakuma, Shunsuke Nishio, Ken-ichi Nishijima, Tsukasa Matsuda, Minoru Ujita
Summary: The egg coat, consisting of ZP glycoproteins, surrounds the oocytes and egg cells in vertebrates. It plays important roles in reproduction and early development. The study reveals that the ZP3 isoforms in chicken IPVL show microheterogeneity, which is potentially associated with the formation of egg-coat matrices. These findings provide new insights into the molecular mechanisms of egg-coat assembly processes.
Article
Zoology
Yu-Qing Cao, Yong-Xin Wang, Yan Zhao, Jia Zhang, Xian He, Ping Xie, Jun Chen, Yu-Hua Sun
Summary: Reproductive strategies and spawning habits are crucial in the evolution of East Asian cyprinids. However, the molecular mechanisms regulating spawning habits are not well understood. This study found that zona pellucida (Zp) protein may play a key role in the regulation of egg type, based on its differential expression in East Asian cyprinids with different egg types. By using transgenic zebrafish, the researchers demonstrated that the exogenous zp3a gene from an adhesive egg-laying fish induced changes in egg adhesiveness and buoyancy, providing new insights into how East Asian cyprinids adapt to their environment.
ZOOLOGICAL RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Kamila Dilimulati, Yulin Zhang, Fabiana Lica Imai, Naoto Yonezawa
Summary: Mammalian fertilization involves selective interactions between sperm proteins and oocyte zona pellucida glycoproteins. The middle region of bovine zona pellucida glycoprotein 4 (bZP4) contains a species-selective sperm-binding site. Mutations of the N-glycosylation sites in the hinge region of bZP4 and bZP3 reduce the sperm-binding activity of the complex.
Article
Reproductive Biology
Karina Canon-Beltran, Yulia N. Cajas, Encina Gonzalez, Raul Fernandez-Gonzalez, Natacha Fierro, Pedro L. Lorenzo, Maria Arias-Alvarez, Rosa M. Garcia-Garcia, Alfonso Gutierrez-Adan, Dimitrios Rizos
Summary: Guinea pig in vitro fertilization (IVF) is underdeveloped due to limited oocyte accessibility and lack of efficient sperm capacitation methods. In this study, we evaluated different capacitation protocols and validated them through sperm analysis and heterologous IVF with bovine oocytes. Protocols C and D showed higher viability, motility, and acrosome reaction of spermatozoa compared to protocols A and B. Further analysis revealed that protocol D achieved higher pro-nuclear formation and cleavage rate in heterologous IVF, suggesting its suitability for guinea pig IVF.
Review
Genetics & Heredity
Alessandro Bartolacci, Giulia Intra, Giovanni Coticchio, Miriam dell'Aquila, Gilda Patria, Andrea Borini
Summary: This study aims to investigate the impact of oocyte dysmorphisms on the outcomes of assisted reproduction treatments based on the existing scientific literature. Eleven different dysmorphisms were identified, and the COC morphology, vacuoles, SER clusters, and granularity were found to be predominantly associated with negative outcomes.
JOURNAL OF ASSISTED REPRODUCTION AND GENETICS
(2022)
Article
Obstetrics & Gynecology
Rong Hua, Rufeng Xue, Yiyuan Liu, Yuqian Li, Xuan Sha, Kuokuo Li, Yang Gao, Qunshan Shen, Mingrong Lv, Yuping Xu, Zhiguo Zhang, Xiaojin He, Yunxia Cao, Huan Wu
Summary: This study identified a novel homozygous nonsense mutation in the ACR gene leading to male infertility. This mutation caused a deficiency in ACROSIN, which impaired sperm penetration of the egg and resulted in fertilization failure. The findings expand our understanding of the genetic factors involved in human infertility and provide valuable information for genetic counseling and fertility guidance for affected individuals.
HUMAN REPRODUCTION
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Naoki Hirose, Genevieve Blanchet, Yasuhiro Yamauchi, Abigail C. Snow, Robin Friedman, Carmen Y. Khoo, Christine W. Lary, Monika A. Ward, Joseph H. Nadeau
Summary: This study investigates the non-random union of gametes in fertilization using in vitro fertilization with mutant and wild-type alleles. The results show that the bias depends on the genetics of oocyte and sperm, and that any environmental input is modest. Transcriptome analysis reveals that the mutation affects the localization of mRNA targets in spermatids and leads to functional differences among spermatids, providing an opportunity for selection among haploid gametes.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Bo Fu, Di Wu, Shigeki Yasumasu, Masaya Hane, Chihiro Sato, Ken Kitajima
Summary: This study investigated the role of Alveolin at the organism level using the medaka model. It was found that fertilized eggs lacking Alveolin were mechanically fragile but could develop normally and produce offspring if handled carefully before hatching. These eggs were significantly larger, thinner, and more permeable compared to wild-type eggs. The study also revealed the importance of Alveolin in chorion hardening. Therefore, Alveolin is considered to be the primary trigger for in vivo chorion hardening.
Review
Medicine, Research & Experimental
Naina Kumar, Namit Kant Singh
Summary: Male infertility is on the rise and the commonly used initial test of semen analysis often fails to detect the cause accurately, leading researchers to identify various sperm proteins for better detection and management in the future. Through literature review and analysis, novel sperm proteins have the potential to serve as markers of male infertility.
CURRENT MOLECULAR MEDICINE
(2021)
Review
Biology
Paul M. Wassarman, Eveline S. Litscher
Summary: The presence of a zona pellucida (ZP) is essential for the fertility of female mammals, including mice and humans. It stabilizes the contacts between oocyte microvilli and follicle cell projections, supporting the development of growing oocytes and follicles. The absence of a ZP, due to gene inactivation or mutation, results in a loss of contacts and reduced production of ovulated eggs, leading to female infertility.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Hiroki Okumura, Hideaki Fukushima, Masaki Momoda, Yurie Ima, Tsukasa Matsuda, Minoru Ujita
BIOCHEMICAL AND BIOPHYSICAL RESEARCH COMMUNICATIONS
(2012)
Article
Reproductive Biology
Shunsuke Nishio, Yoshinori Kohno, Yuki Iwata, Mayumi Arai, Hiroki Okumura, Kenzi Oshima, Daita Nadano, Tsukasa Matsuda
BIOLOGY OF REPRODUCTION
(2014)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Minoru Ujita, Shota Koike, Yosuke Yamauchi, Noburo Kiochi, Hiroki Yura, Mayumi Yamanaka, Hiroki Okumura
BIOSCIENCE BIOTECHNOLOGY AND BIOCHEMISTRY
(2014)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Ling Han, Magnus Monne, Hiroki Okumura, Thomas Schwend, Amy L. Cherry, David Flot, Tsukasa Matsuda, Luca Jovine
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Hiroki Okumura, Ayaka Mizuno, Eri Iwamoto, Rio Sakuma, Shunsuke Nishio, Ken-ichi Nishijima, Tsukasa Matsuda, Minoru Ujita
Summary: The egg coat, consisting of ZP glycoproteins, surrounds the oocytes and egg cells in vertebrates. It plays important roles in reproduction and early development. The study reveals that the ZP3 isoforms in chicken IPVL show microheterogeneity, which is potentially associated with the formation of egg-coat matrices. These findings provide new insights into the molecular mechanisms of egg-coat assembly processes.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Hiroki Okumura, Tetsuya Okajima, Daita Nadano, Tsukasa Matsuda
BIOCHEMICAL AND BIOPHYSICAL RESEARCH COMMUNICATIONS
(2007)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
H Okumura, Y Kohno, Y Iwata, H Mori, N Aoki, C Sato, K Kitajima, D Nadano, T Matsuda
BIOCHEMICAL JOURNAL
(2004)