High hydrostatic pressure and the dissection of fertilization responses : I. The relationship between cortical granule exocytosis and proton efflux during fertilization of the sea urchin egg

High hydrostatic pressure applied between sperm attachment and the onset of cortical granule exocytosis will inhibit this exocytotic event in sea urchin eggs. Such pressure-treated zygotes, nevertheless, are activated and capable of development. Thus, this technique can be used as a tool to study the relationship between cortical granule breakdown and other fertilization-related responses. We have studied whether the exocytosis of cortical granules is necessary for proton efflux (acid release) to occur. Our results indicate that although Ca²⁺ is released while the eggs are under pressure (a prerequisite for the following events to take place), cortical granule exocytosis and acid release are pressure-sensitive and completely inhibited at pressures above 400 atm (6000 psi) and 275 atm (4000 psi), respectively. However, upon decompression, acid release is initiated which amounts to 65–70% of that seen in the unpressurized controls, suggesting that the efflux mechanism does not require cortical granule exocytosis and must result from some modification of the original plasma membrane of the egg. The remaining 30–35% of the acid release is related to cortical granule exocytosis, since it can be obtained upon induction of the cortical granule fusion 30 min later under atmospheric pressure. The initiation of acid release after decompression indicates that the efflux mechanism is not transiently turned on at fertilization, but undergoing long-term modification; the recovery of the ability to induce cortical granule fusion after fertilization under pressure suggests a refilling of cytoplasmic Ca²⁺ stores within this time course.     

Biology and regulation of ectoplasmic specialization, an atypical adherens junction type, in the testis

Anchoring junctions are cell adhesion apparatus present in all epithelia and endothelia. They are found at the cell-cell interface (adherens junction (AJ) and desmosome) and cell-matrix interface (focal contact and hemidesmosome). In this review, we focus our discussion on AJ in particular the dynamic changes and regulation of this junction type in normal epithelia using testis as a model. There are extensive restructuring of AJ (e.g., ectoplasmic specialization, ES, a testis-specific AJ) at the Sertoli-Sertoli cell interface (basal ES) and Sertoli-elongating spermatid interface (apical ES) during the seminiferous epithelial cycle of spermatogenesis to facilitate the migration of developing germ cells across the seminiferous epithelium. Furthermore, recent findings have shown that ES also confers cell orientation and polarity in the seminiferous epithelium, illustrating that some of the functions initially ascribed to tight junctions (TJ), such as conferring cell polarity, are also part of the inherent properties of the AJ (e.g., apical ES) in the testis. The biology and regulation based on recent studies in the testis are of interest to cell biologists in the field, in particular their regulation, which perhaps is applicable to tumorigenesis.     

Effects of wheat germ agglutinin on tunicate egg activation and fertilization: Is there a plasma membrane sperm receptor system on Ascidia ceratodes eggs?

Little work has been carried out on the sperm recognition systems present on the egg plasma membrane. Here it is shown that wheat germ agglutinin (WGA) interferes with the sperm-interacting system on the plasma membrane of eggs of the ascidian, Ascidia ceratodes. The WGA activates the dechorionated egg, indicating that a plasma membrane sugar residue can be directly tied to egg activation. Low concentrations of this lectin do not activate the eggs, but reduce fertilizability. This observation suggests that the WGA binding site might be part of a sperm reception–activation complex in the plasma membrane. While WGA also affects sperm binding to the chorion, the mechanisms of sperm interaction at the plasma membrane and chorion show different sensitivities to lectins, sugars and enzymes.     

Changes in the catalytic properties of DNA ligases during early sea urchin development

Two distinct DNA ligases are expressed during early sea urchin embryogenesis. A light form (50 kDa) is found in unfertilized eggs (oocyte form) and a heavier enzyme (110 kDa) is observed at the two-cell stage (embryonic form). The chronology of the change reveals that the embryonic form is detected 90 min after fertilization. After the two proteins were purified, their catalytic properties were studied using different substrates. The oocyte ligase acts only on deoxypolymers while the embryonic form also ligates heteropolymers. The two enzymes were found to undergo both nick and cohesive-end ligation. With different kinds of restriction sites it was observed that the embryonic enzyme could also ligate blunt-ended DNA. These catalytic properties account for sealing of exogenous DNA and concatenation following DNA injection into eggs. The role of the oocyte form of the enzyme is unclear; one speculation is a role in repair of DNA breaks which might accumulate during long-term sperm and oocyte storage in the gonad.     

Ultrastructural localization of intracellular calcium stores by a new cytochemical method

We describe a new cytochemical method for ultrastructural localization of intracellular calcium stores. This method uses fluoride ions for in situ precipitation of intracellular calcium during fixation. Comparisons made using oxalate, antimonate, or fluoride showed that fluoride was clearly superior for intracellular calcium localization in eggs of the sea urchin Strongylocentrotus purpuratus. Whereas oxalate generally gave no intracellular precipitate and antimonate gave copious but random precipitate, three prominent calcium stores were detected using fluoride: the tubular endoplasmic reticulum, the cortical granules, and large, clear, acidic vesicles of unknown function. The mitochondria of these eggs generally showed no detectable calcium deposits. X-ray spectra confirmed the presence of calcium in the fluoride precipitates, although in some cases magnesium was also detected. Rat skeletal muscle and sea urchin sperm were used to test the reliability of the fluoride method for calcium localization. In rat skeletal muscle, most fluoride precipitate was confined to the sarcoplasmic reticulum. Using sea urchin sperm, which transport calcium into the mitochondria after exposure to egg jelly to induce the acrosome reaction, the expected result was also obtained. Before the acrosome reaction, sperm mitochondria contain no detectable calcium-containing precipitate. Within 4 min after induction of the acrosome reaction, the expected result was also obtained. Before the acrosome reaction, sperm mitochondria displayed many foci of calcium-containing precipitate. The use of fluoride for intracellular calcium localization therefore appears to be a substantial improvement over previous cytochemical methods.     

Characterization of a Ca2+-stimulated lipid peroxidizing system in the sea urchin egg

Addition of calcium chloride to an egg homogenate of Strongylocentrotus purpuratus stimulates O2 consumption which is not inhibited by millimolar cyanide. Results strongly suggest that Ca2+-stimulated O2 consumption is at least partially the result of polyunsaturated fatty acid oxidation. First, addition of arachidonic acid (AA), or other polyunsaturated fatty acids, to the homogenate enhance Ca2+-stimulated O2 consumption; this enhancement, by AA, being coupled to its oxidation to a hydroxy fatty acid. Second, calcium stimulates a lipase activity in the homogenate that is capable of releasing free fatty acids. Third, Ca2+-stimulated O2 consumption and AA oxidation have virtually identical calcium requirements and pH optima. The sequence of events then is that upon calcium addition to the homogenate, lipase activity is increased which liberates free fatty acids. At the same time calcium also activates a polyunsaturated fatty acid oxygenase, possibly lipoxygenase, that converts the free fatty acids to hydroxy fatty acids. The possible physiological importance of this reaction is underscored by the high affinity for Ca2+ [approximately 10(-7)M], an ion known to increase above the required levels at fertilization. The pH activity profile also suggests possible physiological modulation because a pH change of 6.8 increasing to 7.2, as suggested to occur after fertilization, yields almost a twofold increase in O2 consumption. Egg homogenates from many other invertebrate species have the ability to oxidize AA in a Ca2+-dependent fashion. For the investigated species, the presence of Ca2+-stimulated O2 consumption and AA oxidation correlates with the presence of cyanide insensitive respiration in the intact egg.     

Cortical vesicle exocytosis in isolated cortices of sea urchin eggs: Description of a turbidometric assay and its utilization in studying effects of different media on discharge

Cortices of unfertilized sea urchin eggs can be isolated in suspension and will discharge the attached cortical vesicles (CVs) in response to calcium. We describe a simple turbidometric assay for monitoring the Ca²⁺-induced discharge of these vesicles and also compare the discharge of vesicles isolated in a high salt medium (primarily KCl) with a medium more closely simulating the internal milieu of the cell (primarily potassium gluconate and glycine). Discharge in response to calcium is similar in both media, requiring approximately 6 μM calcium for one-half maximal discharge. There are, however, significant differences in morphology and protein composition of the two types of preparations (more proteins present in the glycine cortices) and also in the rate of discharge of the vesicles in response to calcium (KCl cortices with $\text{t}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>1</mtext><mtext>2</mtext>}}$ 6 sec as opposed to 30 sec in the glycine cortices). The glycine cortices gradually lose their ability to respond to calcium but retention of calcium sensitivity is considerably aided by inclusion of ATP in the media; ATP has no apparent effect on discharge of the KCl cortices. The glycine cortices, as opposed to the KCl cortices, exhibited variation in calcium sensitivity during the breeding season and in the number of vesicles which would not break down in response to added calcium (referred to as refractory vesicles). The question of which type of cortex preparation most closely simulates the in vivo situation is discussed, and the view is presented that the glycine cortices most closely resemble the in vivo situation.     

Sea urchin egg fertilization studied with a fluorescent probe (ANS)

The rates of intracellular DNA synthesis at various temperatures between 39 ° and 31 °C were determined in hamster fibroblasts and HeLa cells by measuring average amounts of ³H-thymidine incorporated per cell in S phase per unit of time. The energy of activation and Q₁₀ for intracellular DNA synthesis were calculated from the slopes of the relative rates of DNA synthesis in HeLa cells and hamster fibroblasts vs. time, plotted on Arrhenius coordinates. In both cell types the incorporation of thymidine into DNA is characterized by an energy of activation of 21 000 calories/mole and a Q₁₀ of 2.94. The absolute rates of DNA synthesis were determined in hamster cells at various temperatures, with values ranging from 1.44 to 0.60 × 10^?14 g DNA/ min/cell at 39 ° to 31 °C, respectively. The length of the S phase of the hamster cell was calculated over a 39 ° to 31 °C range, and found to be 5.0 to 11.9 h, respectively. It is concluded that the S phase length is partly determined by the rate of temperature-dependent DNA synthesis.