Sperm Factors and Oocyte Activation: Current Controversies and Considerations.

The beginning of embryogenesis is preceded by a sequence of events mediated by the release of intracellular calcium in the ooplasm, a multifaceted process known as oocyte activation. It is now well established that a sperm protein factor introduced into the oocyte at the time of gamete fusion is res...

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Main Authors: Amdani, S, Yeste, M, Jones, C, Coward, K
Format: Journal article
Language:English
Published: Society for the Study of Reproduction 2015
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author Amdani, S
Yeste, M
Jones, C
Coward, K
author_facet Amdani, S
Yeste, M
Jones, C
Coward, K
author_sort Amdani, S
collection OXFORD
description The beginning of embryogenesis is preceded by a sequence of events mediated by the release of intracellular calcium in the ooplasm, a multifaceted process known as oocyte activation. It is now well established that a sperm protein factor introduced into the oocyte at the time of gamete fusion is responsible for initiating the cascade of signaling events involved. Several sperm proteins have been hypothesized as the sperm oocyte-activating factor (SOAF) over the years, with phospholipase C zeta 1 (PLCZ1 or PLCzeta) emerging as the strongest candidate. A large body of consistent and reproducible evidence, from both biochemical and clinical settings, has accumulated in support of PLCzeta, and data clearly demonstrate that oocyte activation ability can be rescued in PLCzeta-deficient sperm by either PLCzeta cRNA or recombinant PLCzeta protein. However, a series of recent publications has challenged the dominance of PLCzeta and proposed an alternative candidate protein, WBP2 N-terminal like (WBP2NL or PAWP). These events have led to significant debate, fueled by the opposing views of two independent laboratories, each defending its own respective SOAF candidate. This raises important questions with regards to the relative importance of these two proteins in diagnostic and therapeutic medicine, and invites urgent research attention. Here, it is our intention to reflect upon this now very controversial area in order to engage the scientific and clinical communities in addressing the true importance of these two sperm proteins.
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spelling oxford-uuid:f77232b0-280e-4f12-9501-2ed1c85e3d302022-03-27T12:42:41ZSperm Factors and Oocyte Activation: Current Controversies and Considerations.Journal articlehttp://purl.org/coar/resource_type/c_dcae04bcuuid:f77232b0-280e-4f12-9501-2ed1c85e3d30EnglishSymplectic Elements at OxfordSociety for the Study of Reproduction2015Amdani, SYeste, MJones, CCoward, KThe beginning of embryogenesis is preceded by a sequence of events mediated by the release of intracellular calcium in the ooplasm, a multifaceted process known as oocyte activation. It is now well established that a sperm protein factor introduced into the oocyte at the time of gamete fusion is responsible for initiating the cascade of signaling events involved. Several sperm proteins have been hypothesized as the sperm oocyte-activating factor (SOAF) over the years, with phospholipase C zeta 1 (PLCZ1 or PLCzeta) emerging as the strongest candidate. A large body of consistent and reproducible evidence, from both biochemical and clinical settings, has accumulated in support of PLCzeta, and data clearly demonstrate that oocyte activation ability can be rescued in PLCzeta-deficient sperm by either PLCzeta cRNA or recombinant PLCzeta protein. However, a series of recent publications has challenged the dominance of PLCzeta and proposed an alternative candidate protein, WBP2 N-terminal like (WBP2NL or PAWP). These events have led to significant debate, fueled by the opposing views of two independent laboratories, each defending its own respective SOAF candidate. This raises important questions with regards to the relative importance of these two proteins in diagnostic and therapeutic medicine, and invites urgent research attention. Here, it is our intention to reflect upon this now very controversial area in order to engage the scientific and clinical communities in addressing the true importance of these two sperm proteins.
spellingShingle Amdani, S
Yeste, M
Jones, C
Coward, K
Sperm Factors and Oocyte Activation: Current Controversies and Considerations.
title Sperm Factors and Oocyte Activation: Current Controversies and Considerations.
title_full Sperm Factors and Oocyte Activation: Current Controversies and Considerations.
title_fullStr Sperm Factors and Oocyte Activation: Current Controversies and Considerations.
title_full_unstemmed Sperm Factors and Oocyte Activation: Current Controversies and Considerations.
title_short Sperm Factors and Oocyte Activation: Current Controversies and Considerations.
title_sort sperm factors and oocyte activation current controversies and considerations
work_keys_str_mv AT amdanis spermfactorsandoocyteactivationcurrentcontroversiesandconsiderations
AT yestem spermfactorsandoocyteactivationcurrentcontroversiesandconsiderations
AT jonesc spermfactorsandoocyteactivationcurrentcontroversiesandconsiderations
AT cowardk spermfactorsandoocyteactivationcurrentcontroversiesandconsiderations