Left, from top to bottom: Mouse: An internal fertilizer where sperm entry initiates sustained Ca2+ oscillations via sperm-derived PLCζ. Drosophila: An internal fertilizer, but egg activation triggered by mechanical stimuli following ovulation precedes fertilization. Amphibians: External fertilizing species where sperm interaction with an unidentified oolemma receptor triggers the Ca2+ wave. Zebrafish: An external fertilizing species where Ca2+ release and egg activation occur upon spawning and following contact with water and activation of a protease-activated receptor 2a (Par-2a). Top right: Speculative localization of Par-2a and associated G proteins in the zebrafish egg cortex before fertilization; the activating serine proteases and precise ligand changes remain unidentified. Bottom right: Post-activation Ca2+ dynamics in zebrafish embryos: each cleavage division is driven by a localized Ca2+ rise at the cleavage furrow. The extent to which Par-2a and IP3 signaling contribute to these post-activation Ca2+ transients will require additional confirmation. Shown: 1-cell zygote, 2-cell, and 4-cell stages.
The calcium surge that starts #embryogenesis varies across species. This Primer explores a @plosbiology.org study of #zebrafish, revealing that protease-activated receptors mediate a calcium signal that initiates #egg activation before #sperm entry 🧪 Paper: plos.io/467nrzY Primer: plos.io/3TuRvy1