title: Oocyte plasma membrane proteins and the appearance of vitellogenin binding protein during oocyte growth in the lizard Podarcis sicula.
abstract: In the ovary of the lizard Podarcis sicula, the micropinocytotic uptake of the yolk exogenous precursor (i.e., vitellogenin; VTG) occurs only in the reproductive period and involves the plasma membrane of > or =2000-microm oocytes. This paper analyzes the intrinsic proteins extracted from the plasma membrane of growing oocytes to identify the vitellogenin binding protein during the different stages of the annual ovarian cycle of this species. Despite the well-known ultrastructural changes of the oocyte plasma membrane, SDS-PAGE failed to show marked variation in the total number of membrane proteins during the most significant stages of oocyte auxocytosis. Nevertheless, ligand blotting, using homologous VTG and anti-VTG, revealed that an congruent with115-kDa protein of the oocyte plasma membrane bound plasma vitellogenin only in the reproductive period (spring-summer) in both vitellogenic and nonvitellogenic oocytes. During the nonreproductive period, this molecule was never observed. However, it could be induced in the coldest months (winter) by hypophyseal gonadotropins.
authors.affiliation: Department of Evolutionary and Comparative Biology, University of Naples "Federico II,", Italy.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Romano
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Limatola
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002458:Cell Fractionation; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D004527:Egg Proteins; D004591:Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel; D005260:Female; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000494:pharmacology; D008116:Lizards; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D009865:Oocytes / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*; D012621:Seasons
chemical_list: D004527:Egg Proteins; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface; C030474:vitellogenin receptor; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone