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Cell–cell membrane fusion during mammalian fertilization
Author(s) -
Primakoff Paul,
Myles Diana G.
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
febs letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.593
H-Index - 257
eISSN - 1873-3468
pISSN - 0014-5793
DOI - 10.1016/j.febslet.2007.02.021
Subject(s) - gamete , cell fusion , egg cell , microbiology and biotechnology , biology , human fertilization , lipid bilayer fusion , sperm , cell , gene , fusion protein , function (biology) , fusion gene , genetics , embryo , membrane , recombinant dna
The mechanism of sperm–egg fusion in mammals is a research area that has greatly benefited from the use of gene deletion technology. Because fertilization is internal in mammals and the gametes (particularly the eggs) are sparse in number, in vitro studies have considerable limitations. Using gene deletions, a few cell surface proteins in both gametes have been identified as essential for gamete fusion. Ongoing studies are directed at analysis of the function of these proteins and the search for additional proteins that may be involved in this process. So far, no mammalian proteins have been found that also function in sperm–egg fusion of non‐mammalian species or in other types of cell–cell fusion.