Monoclonal antibodies to the sea urchin egg vitelline layer inhibit fertilization by blocking sperm adhesion

Experimental Cell Research
C GacheVictor D Vacquier

Abstract

Thirty-one mouse hybridomas were produced against the vitelline layer (VL) of the egg of the sea urchin S. purpuratus. Ascites fluids of eight of the 31 bound to the VL surface in the high ionic strength conditions of sea water. Binding was specific to the VL, since immunofluorescence showed that the antibodies elevated from the egg surface with the fertilization envelope after activation with ionophore A23187. Antibody binding was strictly species-specific, the eggs of L. pictus showing no reaction. An immunoperoxidase surface-binding assay showed a wide range in the amount of each monoclonal antibody binding to the VL surface at saturation. All eight monoclonals inhibit fertilization by inhibiting the binding of sperm to the VL. None of the eight ascites fluids reacted with egg jelly. The inhibition of fertilization correlates positively with amount of antibody binding the egg surface. In contrast to the effects of polyclonal rabbit antisera raised against whole eggs or egg cortices, these eight monoclonal antibodies to the VL do not induce the wrinkling of the egg, the cortical granule reaction, the centering of pronuclei, or any other visual indication of metabolic activation.

References

May 1, 1974·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·R A Steinhardt, D Epel

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Citations

Apr 1, 1984·Developmental Biology·H L NimanE H Davidson
Jun 1, 1987·Cell Differentiation·C Sardet, P Chang
Nov 1, 1993·Zygote : the Biology of Gametes and Early Embryos·K R Foltz, F M Shilling
Mar 11, 1998·Development, Growth & Differentiation·L M Correa, E J Carroll
Apr 22, 2004·Evolution & Development·Julian L Wong, Gary M Wessel
Mar 28, 2006·Current Topics in Developmental Biology·Julian L Wong, Gary M Wessel

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