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Eukaryotic fertilization and gamete fusion at a glance.

Yonggang LuMasahito Ikawa
Published in: Journal of cell science (2022)
In sexually reproducing organisms, the genetic information is transmitted from one generation to the next via the merger of male and female gametes. Gamete fusion is a two-step process involving membrane recognition and apposition through ligand-receptor interactions and lipid mixing mediated by fusion proteins. HAP2 (also known as GCS1) is a bona fide gamete fusogen in flowering plants and protists. In vertebrates, a multitude of surface proteins have been demonstrated to be pivotal for sperm-egg fusion, yet none of them exhibit typical fusogenic features. In this Cell Science at a Glance article and the accompanying poster, we summarize recent advances in the mechanistic understanding of gamete fusion in eukaryotes, with a particular focus on mammalian species.
Keyphrases
  • public health
  • gene expression
  • single cell
  • healthcare
  • dna methylation
  • cell therapy
  • social media
  • copy number
  • health information
  • multidrug resistant