Fertilization in echinoderms

Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 2012 Aug 31;425(3):588-94. doi: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2012.07.159.

Abstract

For more than 150 years, echinoderm eggs have served as overly favored experimental model systems in which to study fertilization. Sea urchin and starfish belong to the same phylum and thus share many similarities in their fertilization patterns. However, several subtle but fundamental differences do exist in the fertilization of sea urchin and starfish, reflecting their phylogenetic bifurcation approximately 500 million years ago. In this article we review some of the seminal and recent findings that feature similarities and differences in sea urchin and starfish at fertilization.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Acrosome Reaction*
  • Actins / metabolism
  • Animals
  • Calcium / metabolism
  • Calcium Signaling
  • Cyclic ADP-Ribose / metabolism
  • Cytoskeleton / metabolism
  • Exocytosis
  • Male
  • Meiosis
  • NADP / analogs & derivatives
  • NADP / metabolism
  • Ovum / cytology
  • Ovum / physiology
  • Sea Urchins / metabolism
  • Sea Urchins / physiology*
  • Spermatozoa / physiology
  • Starfish / metabolism
  • Starfish / physiology*

Substances

  • Actins
  • Cyclic ADP-Ribose
  • NADP
  • NAADP
  • Calcium