PLCζ is the physiological trigger of the Ca²⁺ oscillations that induce embryogenesis in mammals but conception can occur in its absence.

ABSTRACT: Activation of the egg by the sperm is the first, vital stage of embryogenesis. The sperm protein PLCζ has been proposed as the physiological agent that triggers the Ca²⁺ oscillations that normally initiate embryogenesis. Consistent with this, recombinant PLCζ induces Ca²⁺ oscillations in eggs and debilitating mutations in the PLCZ1 gene are associated with infertility in men. However, there has been no evidence that knockout of the gene encoding PLCζ abolishes the ability of sperm to induce Ca²⁺ oscillations in eggs. Here, we show that sperm derived from Plcz1^-/- male mice fail to trigger Ca²⁺ oscillations in eggs, cause polyspermy and thus demonstrate that PLCζ is the physiological trigger of these Ca²⁺ oscill

SUBMITTER: Hachem A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5592814 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature