SPERM-EGG INTERACTION--EXCITATION-ACTIVATION COUPLING

精卵相互作用的细胞生物学将在海中进行检验 海胆卵，尤指关于刺激 由精子附着产生的卵子导致激活。 的性质 施加在表面上的信号启动蛋的激发 （精子-配体-卵子-受体相互作用和/或精子和卵子的融合） 膜）将被检查。 信号的性质是从 将研究引发活化的表面。 证据 到目前为止表明这些信号涉及接通， 特定的离子流。 这些将被测量为记录的电流 来自精子附着后电压钳位的卵子。 的组合 原子吸收、电子显微镜和电生理学方法 （膜电位、电阻和电容测量，电流和 电压钳分析和膜片钳技术）。

The cell biology of sperm-egg interaction will be examined in the sea urchin egg, especially with respect to the process whereby excitation of the egg resulting from sperm attachment leads to activation. The nature of the signals exerted at the surface which initiate excitation of the egg (sperm-ligand egg-receptor interaction and/or fusion of the sperm and egg membranes) will be examined. The nature of the signals transmitted from the surface which initiate activation will be investigated. The evidence up to the present indicate that these signals involve the turning on and off of specific ion fluxes. These will be meaasured as currents recorded from voltage clamped eggs following sperm attachment. A combination of atomic absorption, electron microscopic, and electrophysiological methods (membrane potential, resistance, and capacitance measurements, current and voltage clamp analysis, and patch clamp techniques) will be used.