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Timing of action of sperm proteases in ascidian fertilization

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  • Genetics, Developmental Biology
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Summary

The timing of action of three sperm proteases, acrosin, spermosin, and a chymotrypsin-like enzyme, in the fertilization of the ascidian,Halocynthia roretzi, was examined by adding specific protease inhibitors at various times after insemination. The results indicate that the last two enzymes both function at the early stage of the process of sperm penetration through the egg investment, while acrosin functions at the late stage.

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Author notes

  1. H. Sawada

    Present address: Department of Physiology, Wakayama Medical College, Wakayama, Japan

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Hokkaido University, 060, Sapporo, Japan

    H. Sawada, H. Yokosawa, T. Numakunai & S. Ishii

  2. Marine Biological Station, Tohoku University, 039-34, Asamushi, Aomori, Japan

    H. Sawada, H. Yokosawa, T. Numakunai & S. Ishii

Authors
  1. H. Sawada
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  2. H. Yokosawa
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  3. T. Numakunai
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  4. S. Ishii
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Additional information

Acknowledgments. We are indebted to Dr M. Hoshi of Tokyo Institute of Technology for his helpful discussion, and to Dr T. Someno of Nippon Kayaku Kogyo Co. for his generous gifts of Z-Val-Pro-Arg-H and leupeptin. This work was supported by Grants-in-Aid from the Ministry of Education, Science and Culture of Japan, and from Naito Research Foundation.

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Sawada, H., Yokosawa, H., Numakunai, T. et al. Timing of action of sperm proteases in ascidian fertilization. Experientia 42, 74–75 (1986). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01975902

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01975902

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