The three-dimensional structure of the zona pellucida in growing and atretic ovarian follicles of the mouse

1989 ◽  
Vol 257 (2) ◽  
pp. 247-253 ◽  
Author(s):  
Giuseppe Familiari ◽  
Stefania A. Nottola ◽  
Antonio Familiari ◽  
Pietro M. Motta
Keyword(s):  
Zona Pellucida ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Ovarian Follicles ◽  
Dimensional Structure ◽  
Three Dimensional Structure

Zona Pellucida Proteins, Fibrils, and Matrix

2020 ◽  
Vol 89 (1) ◽  
pp. 695-715
Author(s):  
Eveline S. Litscher ◽  
Paul M. Wassarman
Keyword(s):  
Extracellular Matrix ◽  
Zona Pellucida ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Structural Features ◽  
Biological Properties ◽  
Preimplantation Development ◽  
Dimensional Structure ◽  
Three Dimensional Structure ◽  
Early Embryos ◽  
N Terminus

The zona pellucida (ZP) is an extracellular matrix that surrounds all mammalian oocytes, eggs, and early embryos and plays vital roles during oogenesis, fertilization, and preimplantation development. The ZP is composed of three or four glycosylated proteins, ZP1–4, that are synthesized, processed, secreted, and assembled into long, cross-linked fibrils by growing oocytes. ZP proteins have an immunoglobulin-like three-dimensional structure and a ZP domain that consists of two subdomains, ZP-N and ZP-C, with ZP-N of ZP2 and ZP3 required for fibril assembly. A ZP2–ZP3 dimer is located periodically along ZP fibrils that are cross-linked by ZP1, a protein with a proline-rich N terminus. Fibrils in the inner and outer regions of the ZP are oriented perpendicular and parallel to the oolemma, respectively, giving the ZP a multilayered appearance. Upon fertilization of eggs, modification of ZP2 and ZP3 results in changes in the ZP's physical and biological properties that have important consequences. Certain structural features of ZP proteins suggest that they may be amyloid-like proteins.

scholarly journals Insights into the molecular basis of sperm–egg recognition in mammals

Reproduction ◽  
2004 ◽  
Vol 127 (4) ◽  
pp. 417-422 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tanya Hoodbhoy ◽  
Jurrien Dean
Keyword(s):  
Zona Pellucida ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Explanatory Models ◽  
Dimensional Structure ◽  
Side Chain ◽  
Egg Recognition ◽  
Three Dimensional Structure ◽  
Sperm Binding ◽  
Single Protein

The zona pellucida surrounding the egg and pre-implantation embryo is required for in vivo fertility and early development. Explanatory models of sperm–egg recognition need to take into account the ability of sperm to bind to ovulated eggs, but not to two-cell embryos. For the last two decades, investigators have sought to identify an individual protein or carbohydrate side chain as the ‘sperm receptor’. However, recent genetic data in mice are more consistent with the three-dimensional structure of the zona pellucida, rather than a single protein (or carbohydrate), determining sperm binding. The mouse and human zonae pellucidae contain three glycoproteins (ZP1, ZP2, ZP3) and, following fertilization, ZP2 is proteolytically cleaved. The replacement of endogenous mouse proteins with human ZP2, ZP3 or both does not alter taxon specificity of sperm binding or prevent fertility. Surprisingly, human ZP2 is not cleaved following fertilization and intact ZP2 correlates with persistent sperm binding to two-cell embryos. Taken together, these data support a model in which the cleavage status of ZP2 modulates the three-dimensional structure of the zona pellucida and determines whether sperm bind (uncleaved) or do not (cleaved).

Three-dimensional structure of the zona pellucida at ovulation

2006 ◽  
Vol 69 (6) ◽  
pp. 415-426 ◽  
Author(s):  
Giuseppe Familiari ◽  
Michela Relucenti ◽  
Rosemarie Heyn ◽  
Giulietta Micara ◽  
Silvia Correr
Keyword(s):  
Zona Pellucida ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Dimensional Structure ◽  
Three Dimensional Structure

The Three-dimensional structure of frozen-hydrated nudaurelia capensis β virus

1987 ◽  
Vol 45 ◽  
pp. 650-651
Author(s):  
N. H. Olson ◽  
T. S. Baker ◽  
Wu Bo Mu ◽  
J. E. Johnson ◽  
D. A. Hendry
Keyword(s):  
South African ◽  
Rna Virus ◽  
Carbon Film ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Dimensional Structure ◽  
Electron Dose ◽  
Total Electron ◽  
Three Dimensional Structure ◽  
Negative Stain ◽  
Dimensional Reconstruction

Nudaurelia capensis β virus (NβV) is an RNA virus of the South African Pine Emperor moth, Nudaurelia cytherea capensis (Lepidoptera: Saturniidae). The NβV capsid is a T = 4 icosahedron that contains 60T = 240 subunits of the coat protein (Mr = 61,000). A three-dimensional reconstruction of the NβV capsid was previously computed from visions embedded in negative stain suspended over holes in a carbon film. We have re-examined the three-dimensional structure of NβV, using cryo-microscopy to examine the native, unstained structure of the virion and to provide a initial phasing model for high-resolution x-ray crystallographic studiesNβV was purified and prepared for cryo-microscopy as described. Micrographs were recorded ∼1 - 2 μm underfocus at a magnification of 49,000X with a total electron dose of about 1800 e-/nm2.

Three Dimensional structure and organization of diploid chromosomes by optical section microscopy

1987 ◽  
Vol 45 ◽  
pp. 633-635
Author(s):  
David A. Agard ◽  
Yasushi Hiraoka ◽  
John W. Sedat
Keyword(s):  
Dimensional Space ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Developmental State ◽  
Mitotic Cell ◽  
Biological Properties ◽  
Dimensional Structure ◽  
Specific Gene ◽  
Three Dimensional Structure ◽  
Complementary Techniques ◽  
Dynamic Structures

In an effort to understand the complex relationship between structure and biological function within the nucleus, we have embarked on a program to examine the three-dimensional structure and organization of Drosophila melanogaster embryonic chromosomes. Our overall goal is to determine how DNA and proteins are organized into complex and highly dynamic structures (chromosomes) and how these chromosomes are arranged in three dimensional space within the cell nucleus. Futher, we hope to be able to correlate structual data with such fundamental biological properties as stage in the mitotic cell cycle, developmental state and transcription at specific gene loci.Towards this end, we have been developing methodologies for the three-dimensional analysis of non-crystalline biological specimens using optical and electron microscopy. We feel that the combination of these two complementary techniques allows an unprecedented look at the structural organization of cellular components ranging in size from 100A to 100 microns.

Three-Dimensional Structure of Cloned T3 Connector Protein at 1.6nm Resolution

1990 ◽  
Vol 48 (1) ◽  
pp. 282-283
Author(s):  
José L. Carrascosa ◽  
José M. Valpuesta ◽  
Hisao Fujisawa
Keyword(s):  
Dna Sequences ◽  
Expression Vector ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Deae Cellulose ◽  
Dna Packaging ◽  
Dimensional Structure ◽  
Two Dimensional ◽  
Freezing And Thawing ◽  
Three Dimensional Structure ◽  
Dimensional Reconstruction

The head to tail connector of bacteriophages plays a fundamental role in the assembly of viral heads and DNA packaging. In spite of the absence of sequence homology, the structure of connectors from different viruses (T4, Ø29, T3, P22, etc) share common morphological features, that are most clearly revealed in their three-dimensional structure. We have studied the three-dimensional reconstruction of the connector protein from phage T3 (gp 8) from tilted view of two dimensional crystals obtained from this protein after cloning and purification.DNA sequences including gene 8 from phage T3 were cloned, into Bam Hl-Eco Rl sites down stream of lambda promotor PL, in the expression vector pNT45 under the control of cI857. E R204 (pNT89) cells were incubated at 42°C for 2h, harvested and resuspended in 20 mM Tris HC1 (pH 7.4), 7mM 2 mercaptoethanol, ImM EDTA. The cells were lysed by freezing and thawing in the presence of lysozyme (lmg/ml) and ligthly sonicated. The low speed supernatant was precipitated by ammonium sulfate (60% saturated) and dissolved in the original buffer to be subjected to gel nitration through Sepharose 6B, followed by phosphocellulose colum (Pll) and DEAE cellulose colum (DE52). Purified gp8 appeared at 0.3M NaCl and formed crystals when its concentration increased above 1.5 mg/ml.

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