title: Sperm-derived WW domain-binding protein, PAWP, elicits calcium oscillations and oocyte activation in humans and mice.
abstract: Mammalian zygotic development is initiated by sperm-mediated intracellular calcium oscillations, followed by activation of metaphase II-arrested oocytes. Sperm postacrosomal WW binding protein (PAWP) fulfils the criteria set for an oocyte-activating factor by inducing oocyte activation and being stored in the perinuclear theca, the sperm compartment whose content is first released into oocyte cytoplasm during fertilization. However, proof that PAWP initiates mammalian zygotic development relies on demonstration that it acts upstream of oocyte calcium oscillations. Here, we show that PAWP triggers calcium oscillations and pronuclear formation in human and mouse oocytes similar to what is observed during intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI). Most important, sperm-induced calcium oscillations are blocked by coinjection of a competitive inhibitor, derived from the WWI domain-binding motif of PAWP, implying the requirement of sperm PAWP and an oocyte-derived WWI domain protein substrate of PAWP for successful fertilization. Sperm-delivered PAWP is, therefore, a unique protein with a nonredundant role during human and mouse fertilization, required to trigger zygotic development. Presented data confirm our previous findings in nonmammalian models and suggest potential applications of PAWP in the diagnosis and treatment of infertility.-
authors: Department of Biomedical and Molecular Sciences, School of Medicine, Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada; Department of Human Genetics, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada;
authors: Mahmoud
authors: M
authors: Aarabi
authors: CReATe Fertility Centre, Toronto, Ontario, Canada;
authors: Hanna
authors: H
authors: Balakier
authors: CReATe Fertility Centre, Toronto, Ontario, Canada;
authors: Siamak
authors: S
authors: Bashar
authors: CReATe Fertility Centre, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; and.
authors: Sergey I
authors: SI
authors: Moskovtsev
authors: Division of Animal Sciences and Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Women's Health, School of Medicine, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri, USA.
authors: Peter
authors: P
authors: Sutovsky
authors: CReATe Fertility Centre, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; and.
authors: Clifford L
authors: CL
authors: Librach
authors: Department of Biomedical and Molecular Sciences, School of Medicine, Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada; ro3@queensu.ca.
authors: Richard
authors: R
authors: Oko
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D020013:Calcium Signaling; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D009865:Oocytes / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D029589:Seminal Plasma Proteins / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D002352:Carrier Proteins; D029589:Seminal Plasma Proteins; C519840:WBP2NL protein, human
keywords: fertilization; reproductive biology