Show threadLuca JovineMar 15, 2024

In this work we use #crystallography and #cryoem to study egg zona pellucida (#ZP) glycoprotein #ZP2, in both its intact (pre-fertilization) and cleaved (post-fertilization) state.

We also describe the first structure of a heteromeric vertebrate egg coat filament.

CellBioNewsMar 15, 2024

New discovery reveals how the #egg controls #sperm entry.

#fertilization #egg_coat #ZP2

https://phys.org/news/2024-03-discovery-reveals-egg-sperm-entry.html

New discovery reveals how the egg controls sperm entry

After the egg has been fertilized by a sperm, the surrounding egg coat tightens, mechanically preventing the entry of additional sperm and the ensuing death of the embryo. This is according to a new study led by researchers at Karolinska Institutet and published in the journal Cell. The work also explains how mutations in egg coat proteins can cause female infertility and may eventually lead to new contraceptive methods.

Phys.org
Ron Beavis ❌Oct 27, 2023

The 4 subunits that make up an oocyte's zona peculida. Something seems to be up with the mRNA atlas entries for ZP3:r.

#ZP1, #ZP2, #ZP3, #ZP4 (zona pellucida glycoprotein 1, 2, 3 & 4): Human Protein Atlas Concensus mRNA tissue distributions & GPMDB protein tissue tabbulations. #proteomics

Luca JovineJun 12, 2023

In this work, we combine #crystallography, #cryoEM, #AlphaFold predictions, biochemical and mouse studies to unveil the 3D structure of vertebrate egg coat filaments and describe how cleavage of their #ZP2 subunit hardens the coat, establishing a permanent block to #polyspermy.

A very big thank you to all co-authors, collaborators, and funding bodies for making this possible!

Luca JovineJun 12, 2023

After a chase that lasted more than 10 years, finally here it is:

Architecture of the Vertebrate Egg Coat and Structural Basis of the ZP2 Block to Polyspermy
https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=4470110

#fertilization #oocyte #sperm #zonapellucida #zp_domain #zp_module #zp1 #zp2 #zp3 #infertility