Abstract
The earliest events in ascidian fertilization require sperm-egg recognition, sperm activation and penetration of the egg's protective barriers before sperm-egg fusion can occur. Species selective recognition is known to depend on recognition by sperm of egg N-acetylglucosamine sites. Binding to these sites triggers the defining event of ascidian sperm activation called mitochondrial translocation. in this process, the mitochondrion becomes anchored to follicles cells surrounding the egg and then rounds up, moves to the base of the head and translocates onto the tail. This actimmyosin-dependent process provides the force for penetration. Activation of myosin depends on a signaling pathway that leads to internal Ca2+ release and external Ca2+ entry.In order for actimmyosin interactions to provide the force for penetration, the mitochondrion must be anchored to the outer surface of the egg complex. Presumably this anchor must also attach to actin filaments that serve as the track for the mitochondrial translocation process.
Published Version
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