Chemotactic behavior of egg mitochondria in response to sperm fusion in mice. Issue 11 (November 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Iwai, Maki; Harada, Yuichirou; Miyabayashi, Rinako; Kang, Woojin; Nakamura, Akihiro; Kawano, Natsuko; Miyamoto, Yoshitaka; Yamada, Mitsutoshi; Hamatani, Toshio; Miyado, Mami; Yoshida, Keiichi; Saito, Hidekazu; Tanaka, Mamoru; Umezawa, Akihiro; Miyado, Kenji
• Is Part Of: Heliyon. Volume 4:Issue 11(2018)
• Publication Date: 2018-11
• Subjects: Cell biology -- Developmental biology -- Molecular biology -- Zoology; Research -- Periodicals; Medical sciences -- Periodicals; Natural history -- Periodicals; Social sciences -- Periodicals; Earth sciences -- Periodicals; Physical sciences -- Periodicals; 507.2
• DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2018.e00944
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2405-8440

Abstract

Abstract: Mitochondria are the powerhouses of eukaryotic cells and their positioning contributes to fertilization and early developmental processes. We report that sperm fusion triggers Ca 2+ oscillations and mitochondrial movement toward fused sperm (mitochondrial chemotaxis) in mouse eggs. Mitochondria functioned in Ca 2+ storage and were colocalized with endoplasmic reticulum (ER) during Ca 2+ oscillations. Mitochondria then moved toward the fused sperm. Sperm extracts lacking nuclei induced Ca 2+ oscillations, but did not promote mitochondrial chemotaxis. Our results suggest that sperm fusion motivates Ca 2+ oscillation-independent mitochondrial chemotaxis. This phenomenon indicates that egg mitochondria interact with sperm materials, presumably nuclear substances, and their network tethers egg and sperm nuclei at the early stage of zygote formation.