Open AccessOocyte-specific gene expression: molecular characterization of a cDNA coding for ZP-3, the sperm receptor of the mouse zona pellucida.
Author(s) -
Maurice Ringuette,
Donna A. Sobieski,
Steven M. Chamow,
Jurrien Dean
Publication year - 1986
Publication title -
proceedings of the national academy of sciences of the united states of america
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 5.011
H-Index - 771
eISSN - 1091-6490
pISSN - 0027-8424
DOI - 10.1073/pnas.83.12.4341
Subject(s) - biology , complementary dna , zona pellucida , microbiology and biotechnology , gene , zona pellucida glycoprotein , germ cell , gene expression , cdna library , coding region , genetics , oocyte , embryo
The mouse zona pellucida genes are expressed uniquely during oogenesis and are developmentally regulated in the absence of cell division. Little is known about the mechanisms that control the expression of these germ-line-specific genes that play crucial roles in early mammalian development. We have constructed a lambda gt11 cDNA library from ovarian poly(A)+ mRNA and have isolated clones coding for ZP-3, the mouse sperm receptor. The identity of the clones was confirmed by comparing their DNA sequence with an amino acid sequence obtained from an isolated ZP-3 peptide. The ZP-3 gene is transcribed as a 1.7-kilobase poly(A) mRNA that is detected exclusively in ovarian tissue. This germ-line-specific expression is reflected in the observed hypomethylation of the ZP-3 locus in ovarian but not liver or brain DNAs. The ZP-3 gene is otherwise identically organized in somatic and germ-line DNA where it appears to be present as a low-copy-number or single-copy gene. Despite the fact that the mouse sperm receptor demonstrates species specificity, the ZP-3 cDNA cross-hybridized with DNA from a variety of mammalian species, including rat, rabbit, dog, pig, cow, and human.