title: Is PAWP the "real" sperm factor?
abstract: Mammalian embryo development is initiated by intracellular Ca2+ oscillations that result in oocyte activation following gamete membrane fusion. It is widely believed that oocyte Ca2+ oscillations are triggered by a sperm-specific protein, phospholipase C-zeta (PLCζ) that activates InsP3 production leading to repetitive Ca2+ release from intracellular stores. However, a recent report in the FASEB Journal by Aarabi et al. challenges this view by proposing postacrosomal WW domain-binding protein (PAWP) as another sperm-derived protein that can also initiate Ca2+ oscillations and zygotic development at fertilization. Here we discuss these new findings and examine the evidence suggesting PAWP as the "real" sperm factor.
authors: Institute of Molecular and Experimental Medicine, School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Cardiff, United Kingdom.
authors: Michail
authors: M
authors: Nomikos
authors: Karl
authors: K
authors: Swann
authors: F Anthony
authors: FA
authors: Lai
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D020013:Calcium Signaling; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D009865:Oocytes / Q000187:drug effects*; D029589:Seminal Plasma Proteins / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D002352:Carrier Proteins; D029589:Seminal Plasma Proteins
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