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- Title
A sperm cytoskeletal protein that signals oocyte meiotic maturation and ovulation.
- Authors
Miller, M A; Nguyen, V Q; Lee, M H; Kosinski, M; Schedl, T; Caprioli, R M; Greenstein, D
- Abstract
Caenorhabditis elegans oocytes, like those of most animals, arrest during meiotic prophase. Sperm promote the resumption of meiosis (maturation) and contraction of smooth muscle-like gonadal sheath cells, which are required for ovulation. We show that the major sperm cytoskeletal protein (MSP) is a bipartite signal for oocyte maturation and sheath contraction. MSP also functions in sperm locomotion, playing a role analogous to actin. Thus, during evolution, MSP has acquired extracellular signaling and intracellular cytoskeletal functions for reproduction. Proteins with MSP-like domains are found in plants, fungi, and other animals, suggesting that related signaling functions may exist in other phyla.
- Publication
Science (New York, N.Y.), 2001, Vol 291, Issue 5511, p2144
- ISSN
0036-8075
- Publication type
Journal Article
- DOI
10.1126/science.1057586