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Immunoelectron Microscopic Demonstration of Cortical Granule Lectins in Coelomic, Unfertilized and Fertilized Eggs of Xenopus laevis
Author(s) -
Yoshizaki Norio
Publication year - 1989
Publication title -
development, growth and differentiation
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.864
H-Index - 66
eISSN - 1440-169X
pISSN - 0012-1592
DOI - 10.1111/j.1440-169x.1989.00325.x
Subject(s) - cortical granule , vitelline membrane , polyspermy , human fertilization , biology , perivitelline space , immunoelectron microscopy , zona pellucida , anatomy , xenopus , coelom , granule (geology) , microbiology and biotechnology , embryo , oocyte , biochemistry , immunology , antibody , paleontology , gene
Immunoelectron microscopic studies demonstrated cortical granule lectins (CGLs) in coelomic, unfertilized and fertilized eggs of Xenopus laevis . An antiserum raised against purified cortical granule lectin 1 specifically reacted with the CGLs in immunoblotting and agar diffusion tests. When ultrathin sections were treated with the antiserum and protein A‐gold solution, gold particles, indicating antigenic sites, were seen over cortical granules of coelomic and unfertilized eggs, and over the perivitelline space, the vitelline coat and the condensed region of the fertilization layer of fertilized eggs. The pre‐fertilization layer immediately adjacent to the outer margin of the vitelline coat in unfertilized eggs was free from gold particles. These observations suggest that released CGLs permeate through the vitelline coat of fertilized eggs and interact with the pre‐fertilization layer mainly at the outer margin of the vitelline coat, resulting in formation of the fertilization layer which acts as a block to polyspermy.