title: Activation of oocytes by latrunculin A.
abstract: Actin depolymerization by latrunculin A (LAT-A) in mature starfish oocytes induces a massive calcium mobilization that results in the discharge of the cortical granules and in the elevation of the fertilization envelope. The Ca2+ liberation starts as a circumscribed subplasma membrane hotspot, which is followed by a flash of Ca2+ increase restricted to the cortical layer. Ca2+ propagates rapidly from these peripheral regions to the center of the oocyte, initiating calcium oscillations. Blockade of the inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate receptors with heparin does not affect the liberation of Ca2+ at the initial hotspot or the cortical flash, but abolishes the centripetal spreading of the wave and the Ca2+ oscillations. In Ca2+-free medium, LAT-A also initiates Ca2+ release at a discrete cortical point, but then propagates throughout the cell without first forming the uniform cortical flash. The latter is thus linked to the influx of external Ca2+, somehow promoted by the depolymerization of cortical (microvillar) actin. The Ca2+ response to spermatozoa (i.e., peripheral hotspot, cortical flash, globalization of the signal) closely mimics that promoted by LAT-A. Thus, the initial cortical release of Ca2+ promoted by the sperm may be due to the depolymerization of actin.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Cell Biology, Stazione Zoologica 'A. Dohrn' Villa Comunale I-80121, Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Dmitri
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Lim
authors.forename: Klaus
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Lange
authors.forename: Luigia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Santella
mesh_terms: D008841:Actin Cytoskeleton / Q000187:drug effects*; D000818:Animals; D019086:Bridged Bicyclo Compounds, Heterocyclic / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism; D020013:Calcium Signaling; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D005306:Fertilization; D007700:Kinetics; D009865:Oocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D013215:Starfish; D013844:Thiazoles / Q000494:pharmacology*; D053778:Thiazolidines
chemical_list: D019086:Bridged Bicyclo Compounds, Heterocyclic; D013844:Thiazoles; D053778:Thiazolidines; C037067:latrunculin A; D002118:Calcium