Visualization of the biphasic calcium wave during fertilization in Caenorhabditis elegans using a genetically encoded calcium indicator.

ABSTRACT: Fertilization is a critical step in development, yet internal fertilization events are notoriously difficult to visualize. Taking advantage of the calcium response that is a hallmark of sperm-egg fusion, we adapted the genetically encoded calcium indicator jGCaMP7s to visualize the moment of fertilization in Caenorhabditis elegans using fluorescence. We termed this tool the 'CaFE' reporter, for 'calcium during fertilization in C. elegans'. The CaFE reporter produced a robust signal that recapitulated the previously reported, biphasic nature of the calcium wave and had no significant deleterious effects on worm physiology or fecundity. Calcium waves were not observed at the restrictive temperature in the spe-9(hc88) strain, in which sperm can still trigger meiotic maturation but can no long

SUBMITTER: Toperzer KM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10655868 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature