title: Phospholipase C zeta undergoes dynamic changes in its pattern of localization in sperm during capacitation and the acrosome reaction.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the localization of phospholipase C zeta (PLC zeta) in non-capacitated, capacitated, and ionophore-treated sperm.
  
  
  METHODS
  Phospholipase C zeta was cloned from the hamster, an important model organism for studying fertilization. Next, we used hamster and mouse models to investigate the localization of PLC zeta in non-capacitated and capacitated sperm and in sperm treated with ionophore to induce the acrosome reaction.
  
  
  METHODS
  University laboratory.
  
  
  METHODS
  Male mice and hamsters, 4-6 weeks old.
  
  
  METHODS
  None.
  
  
  METHODS
  Phospholipase C zeta localization in non-capacitated, capacitated, and ionophore-treated sperm.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Full-length hamster PLC zeta complementary DNA is 1953 base pairs in size, encoding an open reading frame of 651 amino acids, sharing 85% amino acid similarity with the mouse. Phospholipase C zeta was localized in acrosomal and post-acrosomal regions of sperm. The post-acrosomal localization, which became more evident after capacitation and was maintained after ionophore treatment, is in line with PLC zeta being the endogenous agent of egg activation. However, the acrosomal PLC zeta population, which was lost after ionophore treatment, suggests that PLC zeta could have other functions besides egg activation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Phospholipase C zeta is localized to acrosomal and post-acrosomal regions and undergoes dynamic changes during capacitation and the acrosome reaction, indicating a potential role regulating not only egg activation but other sperm functions.
authors: Department of Pharmacology, University of Oxford, Mansfield Road, Oxford, United Kingdom.
authors: Claire
authors: C
authors: Young
authors: Patricia
authors: P
authors: Grasa
authors: Kevin
authors: K
authors: Coward
authors: Lianne C
authors: LC
authors: Davis
authors: John
authors: J
authors: Parrington
mesh_terms: D000177:Acrosome / Q000201:enzymology; D020101:Acrosome Reaction / Q000502:physiology*; D000818:Animals; D015152:Blotting, Northern; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D006224:Cricetinae; D017931:DNA Primers; D015151:Immunoblotting; D008297:Male; D008647:Mesocricetus; D051379:Mice; D008815:Mice, Inbred Strains; D054801:Phosphoinositide Phospholipase C / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D013075:Sperm Capacitation / Q000502:physiology*; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000201:enzymology*
chemical_list: D017931:DNA Primers; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D054801:Phosphoinositide Phospholipase C; C499234:Plcz1 protein, mouse