Activation by serotonin of starfish eggs expressing the rat serotonin 1c receptor.
Starfish oocytes were injected with mRNA for the serotonin 1c receptor or with rat brain poly A+ mRNA, incubated to allow expression of the membrane protein, then matured to eggs by addition of 1-methyladenine. Applying serotonin to these eggs caused cortical granule exocytosis like that occurring at fertilization. Because the serotonin 1c receptor specifically activates a G-protein, these results provide support for the hypothesis that sperm activate eggs by way of a receptor-G-protein interaction. The starfish oocyte may be a generally useful system for expression of exogenous mRNA for membrane proteins.
Shilling
F
F
Department of Biology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles 90089.
Mandel
G
G
Jaffe
L A
LA
D000818:Animals; D015550:Cell Degranulation / Q000502:physiology; D005306:Fertilization / Q000502:physiology*; D019204:GTP-Binding Proteins / Q000502:physiology*; D008845:Microinjections; D009865:Oocytes / Q000502:physiology*; D011061:Poly A / Q000008:administration & dosage; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000502:physiology; D051381:Rats; D011985:Receptors, Serotonin / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000502:physiology*; D012701:Serotonin / Q000502:physiology*; D013215:Starfish
D012333:RNA, Messenger; D011985:Receptors, Serotonin; D011061:Poly A; D012701:Serotonin; D019204:GTP-Binding Proteins