Rapid,nonradioactive, and quantitative method to analyze zona pellucida modifications in single mouse eggs

A rapid, nonradioactive method to monitor the ZP2 to ZP2_f conversion in the zona pellucida of single mouse eggs has been developed. This assay is based on the chemiluminescent detection of biotinylated ZP2 and ZP2_f following electrophoresis under reducing conditions and electrophoretic transfer to Immobilon P. This method is about 10 times faster and detects similar extents of ZP2 to ZP2_f conversion following A23187-induced egg activation, when compared to the commonly used radioiodination procedures. © 1994 Wiley-Liss, Inc.