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Calcium‐regulated fusion of yolk granules during early embryogenesis of Periplaneta americana
Author(s) -
Ramos I.B.,
Miranda K.,
de Souza W.,
Machado E.A.
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
molecular reproduction and development
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.745
H-Index - 105
eISSN - 1098-2795
pISSN - 1040-452X
DOI - 10.1002/mrd.20560
Subject(s) - biology , periplaneta , embryogenesis , yolk , calcium , lipid bilayer fusion , microbiology and biotechnology , embryo , membrane , biophysics , anatomy , biochemistry , medicine , food science , ecology , cockroach
This work reported membrane fusion of yolk granules (YGs) during early embryogenesis of the insect Periplaneta americana ( P. americana ). We showed that eggs from Day 5 of embryogenesis possess a greater amount of enlarged YGs in comparison with Day 1. Day 5 is also the period when the largest amount of free calcium is found (∼17 mM) within the oothecae from early embryogenesis. Treatment of Day 1‐YGs fraction with 17 mM Ca 2+ resulted in a YG size pattern very similar to the one observed in Day 5 eggs, where enlarged YGs were formed. YG membrane fusion was observed by fluorescent membrane dye transfer from previously labeled small YGs to larger ones and was also visualized by electron microscopy. We also showed that the small “in fusion” YGs seemed to be acidic, suggesting that acidification is correlated with YG membrane fusion. Hence, it was shown that YGs are capable of membrane fusion in a calcium‐dependent manner and this process probably occurs in vivo during early embryogenesis of P. americana . Mol. Reprod. Dev. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.