biostudies-literatureIwai MJapan Society for the Promotion of Sciencee00944https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC6240845biostudies-literatureUnknown4(11)Mitochondria are the powerhouses of eukaryotic cells and their positioning contributes to fertilization and early developmental processes. We report that sperm fusion triggers Ca²⁺ oscillations and mitochondrial movement toward fused sperm (mitochondrial chemotaxis) in mouse eggs. Mitochondria functioned in Ca²⁺ storage and were colocalized with endoplasmic reticulum (ER) during Ca²⁺ oscillations. Mitochondria then moved toward the fused sperm. Sperm extracts lacking nuclei induced Ca²⁺ oscillations, but did not promote mitochondrial chemotaxis. Our results suggest that sperm fusion motivates Ca²⁺ oscillation-independent mitochondrial chemotaxis. This phenomenon indicates that egg mitochondria interact with sperm materials, presumably HeliyonChemotactic behavior of egg mitochondria in response to sperm fusion in mice.PMC62408452629336316KK01922667073318K1682417K16850Kawano NHarada YKang WHamatani TYamada MYoshida KIwai MMiyabayashi RNakamura AUmezawa AMiyado KMiyado MSaito HMiyamoto YTanaka MfalseChemotactic behavior of egg mitochondria in response to sperm fusion in mice.Mitochondria are the powerhouses of eukaryotic cells and their positioning contributes to fertilization and early developmental processes. We report that sperm fusion triggers Ca²⁺ oscillations and mitochondrial movement toward fused sperm (mitochondrial chemotaxis) in mouse eggs. Mitochondria functioned in Ca²⁺ storage and were colocalized with endoplasmic reticulum (ER) during Ca²⁺ oscillations. Mitochondria then moved toward the fused sperm. Sperm extracts lacking nuclei induced Ca²⁺ oscillations, but did not promote mitochondrial chemotaxis. Our results suggest that sperm fusion motivates Ca²⁺ oscillation-independent mitochondrial chemotaxis. This phenomenon indicates that egg mitochondria interact with sperm materials, presumably 2018-01-01T00:00:00Z2018 Nov2025-04-04T08:41:44.837Z2019-03-27T00:10:30ZS-EPMC62408453048016010.1016/j.heliyon.2018.e00944