• Development and Reproduction
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.197-204
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• 2011

Egg activation is a crucial step that initiates embryo development upon breaking the meiotic arrest. In mammalian, egg activation is accomplished by fusion with sperm, which induces the repeated intracellular $Ca^{2+}$- increases ($[Ca^{2+}]_i$ oscillation). Researches in mammals support the view of the $[Ca^{2+}]_i$ oscillation and egg activation is triggered by a protein factor from sperm that causes $[Ca^{2+}]_i$ release from endoplasmic reticulum, intracellular $[Ca^{2+}]_i$ store, by persistently activation of phosphoinositide pathway. It represents that the sperm factor generates production of inositol trisphosphate ($IP_3$). Recently a sperm specific form of phospholipase C zeta, referred to as PLCZ was identified. In this paper, we confer the evidence that PLCZ represent the sperm factor that induces $[Ca^{2+}]_i$ oscillation and egg activation and discuss the correlation of PLCZ and infertility.

• Development and Reproduction
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.31-39
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• 2011

Change in intracellular $Ca^{2+}$-concentration ($[Ca^{2+}]_i$) is an essential event for egg activation and further development. $Ca^{2+}$ ion is originated from intracellular $Ca^{2+}$-store via inositol 1,4,5-triphosphate receptor and/or $Ca^{2+}$ influx via $Ca^{2+}$ channel. This study was performed to investigate whether changes in $Ca^{2+}$/calmodulin dependent protein kinase II (CaM KII) activity affect $Ca^{2+}$ influx during artificial egg activation with ethanol using $Ca^{2+}$ monitoring system and whole-cell patch clamp technique. Under $Ca^{2+}$ ion-omitted condition, $Ca^{2+}$-oscillation was stopped within 30 min post microinjection of porcine sperm factor, and ethanol-induced $Ca^{2+}$ increase was reduced. To investigate the role of CaM KII known as an integrator of $Ca^{2+}$- oscillation during mammalian egg fertilization, CaM KII activity was tested with a specific inhibitor KN-93. In the eggs treated with KN-93, ethanol failed to induce egg activation. In addition, KN-93 inhibited inward $Ca^{2+}$ current ($I_{Ca}$) in a time-dependent manner in whole-cell configuration. Immunostaining data showed that the voltage-dependent $Ca^{2+}$ channels were distributed along the plasma membrane of mouse egg and 2-cell embryo. From these results, we suggest that $Ca^{2+}$ influx during fertilization might be controlled by CaM KII activity.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.32 no.7
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• pp.1172-1175
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• 2003

Mutagenicity of white layer cake including 20 kGy-gamma irradiated egg white manufactured as a research on the practical approaches of gamma irradiation for the reduction of egg allergy was evaluated by Salmonella typhimurium reversion assay (Ames test). The water-soluble and organic solvents mixture of methanol: chloroform (2 : 1)-soluble fractions of the white layer cake including 20 kGy-gamma irradiated egg white were examined in S. typhimurium TA98 and TA100. Both with and without metabolic activation, the number of revertant colonies were not increased in each extract compared with negative controls. No significant difference in the formation of the colonies was observed at the non-irradiated and 20 kGy-irradiated samples. The results indicate that there is no evidence of mutagenicity in white layer cake including 20 kGy-gamma irradiated egg white.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.319-323
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• 2012

In recent years, egg allergy has been raised as the most prevalent food hypersensitivity in the pediatric population. One of the major egg allergens is ovalbumin (OVA) which is the major protein in egg white, comprising 54% of its total protein content. Parthenolide isolated from Tanacetum partheniumb has been used to treat many chronic diseases for many years. In the present report, we present biochemical evidence that parthenolide inhibits the nuclear factor-${\kappa}B$ (NF-${\kappa}B$) activation induced by OVA. Parthenolide also inhibits OVA-induced cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) expression. These data suggest new approaches for the efficient alleviation of the allergic symptoms.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.270-274
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• 2013

Egg allergy has been raised as the most prevalent food hypersensitivity in children. Ovalbumin (OVA), which is one of the major egg allergens, is the major protein in egg white. Isoliquiritigenin (ILG) is an active component present in licorice and has been used to treat many chronic diseases for many years. In this study, we present biochemical evidence that ILG inhibits OVA-induced nuclear factor-${\kappa}B$ (NF-${\kappa}B$) activation. ILG also inhibits OVA-induced cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) expression. These data suggest that ILG has anti-allergy effects.

• BMB Reports
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• v.43 no.6
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• pp.389-399
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• 2010

Fertilization is a complex process comprised of numerous steps. During fertilization, two highly specialized and differentiated cells (sperm and egg) fuse and subsequently trigger the development of an embryo from a quiescent, arrested oocyte. Molecular interactions between the sperm and egg are necessary for regulating the developmental potential of an oocyte, and precise coordination and regulation of gene expression and protein function are critical for proper embryonic development. The nematode Caenorhabditis elegans has emerged as a valuable model system for identifying genes involved in fertilization and the oocyte-to-embryo transition as well as for understanding the molecular mechanisms that govern these processes. In this review, we will address current knowledge of the molecular underpinnings of gamete interactions during fertilization and the oocyte-to-embryo transition in C. elegans. We will also compare our knowledge of these processes in C. elegans to what is known about similar processes in mammalian, specifically mouse, model systems.

• Korean Journal of Animal Reproduction
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.353-358
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• 1999

Four important attributes for successful fertilization by a spermatozoon are (ⅰ) correct morphology, (ⅱ) correct presentation of egg recognition and fusion molecules, (ⅲ) progressive motility and (ⅳ), correct transfer of signalling molecules from sperm to egg for activation of development. In this presentation, these topics will be described and illustrated with emphasis on the endogenous control mechanisms that enable spermatozoa to respond to external signals. (omitted)

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.665-671
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• 2005

Initiation and activation of sperm motility are prerequisite processes for the contact and fusion of male and female gametes at fertilization. The phenomena are under the regulation of cAMP and $Ca^{2+}$ in vertebrates and invertebrates. Mammalian sperm requires $Ca^{2+}$ and cAMP for the activation of sperm motility. Cell signaling for the initiation and activation of sperm motility in the ascidians and salmonid fishes has drawn much attention. In the ascidians, the sperm-activating and attracting factors from unfertilized egg require extracellular $Ca^{2+}$ for activating sperm motility and eliciting chemotactic behavior toward the egg. On the other hand, the cAMP-dependent phosphorylation of protein is essential for the initiation of sperm motility in salmonid fishes. A decrease of the environmental $K^+$ concentration surrounding the spawned sperm causes $K^+$ efflux and $Ca^{2+}$ influx through the specific $K^+$ channel and dihydropyridine-sensitive L-/T-type $Ca^{2+}$ channel, respectively, thereby leading to the membrane hyperpolarization. The membrane hyperpolarization induces synthesis of cAMP, which triggers further cell signaling processes, such as cAMP-dependent protein phosphorylation, to initiate sperm motility in salmonid fishes. This article reviews the studies on the physiological mechanisms of sperm motility and its cell signaling in aquatic species.

• Development and Reproduction
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.297-306
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• 2020

Repetitive changes in the intracellular calcium concentration ([Ca²⁺]i) triggers egg activation, including cortical granule exocytosis, resumption of second meiosis, block to polyspermy, and initiating embryonic development. [Ca²⁺]i oscillations that continue for several hours, are required for the early events of egg activation and possibly connected to further development to the blastocyst stage. The sources of Ca²⁺ ion elevation during [Ca²⁺]i oscillations are Ca²⁺ release from endoplasmic reticulum through inositol 1,4,5 tri-phosphate receptor and Ca²⁺ ion influx through Ca²⁺ channel on the plasma membrane. Ca²⁺ channels have been characterized into voltage-dependent Ca²⁺ channels (VDCCs), ligand-gated Ca²⁺ channel, and leak-channel. VDCCs expressed on muscle cell or neuron is specified into L, T, N, P, Q, and R type VDCs by their activation threshold or their sensitivity to peptide toxins isolated from cone snails and spiders. The present study was aimed to investigate the localization pattern of N and P/Q type voltage-dependent calcium channels in mouse eggs and the role in fertilization. [Ca²⁺]i oscillation was observed in a Ca²⁺ contained medium with sperm factor or adenophostin A injection but disappeared in Ca²⁺ free medium. Ca²⁺ influx was decreased by Lat A. N-VDCC specific inhibitor, ω-Conotoxin CVIIA induced abnormal [Ca²⁺]i oscillation profiles in SrCl₂ treatment. N or P/Q type VDC were distributed on the plasma membrane in cortical cluster form, not in the cytoplasm. Ca²⁺ influx is essential for [Ca²⁺]i oscillation during mammalian fertilization. This Ca²⁺ influx might be controlled through the N or P/Q type VDCCs. Abnormal VDCCs expression of eggs could be tested in fertilization failure or low fertilization eggs in subfertility women.

• Development and Reproduction
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.81-88
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• 2003

Initiation and activation of sperm motility are prerequisite processes for the contact and fusion of male and female gametes at fertilization. The phenomena are under the regulation of CAMP and $Ca^{2+}$ in vertebrates and invertebrates. Mammalian sperm requires $Ca^{2+}$and cyclic AMP for the activation of sperm motility. Cell signaling for the initiation and activation of sperm motility has been well studied in the ascidians, Ciona intestinalis and C. savignyi and salmonid fishes. In Ciona, whose cell signaling for activation of sperm motility has been established, the sperm-activating and -attracting factor released from unfertilized egg requires extracellular $Ca^{2+}$ for activating sperm motility and eliciting chemotactic behavior of the activated sperm toward the egg. On the other hand, the cyclic AMP-dependent phosphorylation of protein is essential for the initiation of sperm motility in salmonid fishes. A decrease in the environmental Ti concentration surrounding the spawned sperm causes a li efflux and $Ca^{2+}$ influx through the specific $K^{+}$ channel and dihydropyridine-sensitive L-/T- type $Ca^{2+}$ channel, respectively, thereby leading to the membrane hyperpolarization and $Ca^{2+}$ influx. The membrane hyperpolarization synthesizes cyclic AMP, which triggers the luther Process of cell signaling, i.e., cyclic AMP-dependent protein phosphorylation, to initiate sperm motility in salmond fishes.almond fishes.