Construction of the zona pellucida during production of fertilizable mouse eggs.
All mammalian eggs are surrounded by a thick extracellular coat, or zona pellucida. Construction of the zona pellucida is an essential step during the production of fertilizable mammalian eggs. Zona pellucida glycoproteins are synthesized exclusively by oocytes during their growth phase and are then assembled in a highly specific manner into a thick extracellular coat. These unique glycoproteins play important roles during mammalian oogenesis, fertilization, and preimplantation development. Consequently, construction of the zona pellucida is a major activity of growing oocytes as they prepare for ovulation and fertilization.
Wassarman
P M
PM
Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Roche Institute of Molecular Biology, Nutley, New Jersey 07110.
D000818:Animals; D015870:Gene Expression / Q000502:physiology; D006023:Glycoproteins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D051379:Mice; D009865:Oocytes / Q000254:growth & development*; D015044:Zona Pellucida / Q000502:physiology* / Q000648:ultrastructure
D006023:Glycoproteins