NIH R01 · 2025
Fertilization-induced maturation of cortical ER clusters in oocytes; impact of maternal age
PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT Cortical ER structure is a key aspect of oocyte quality as exemplified in mammals where unique `ER clusters' become positioned in close proximity to the plasma membrane (PM). Our recent in vivo studies demonstrate the presence of hereto unknown actin fenestrae within cortical actin layer, in addition the ER clusters were centrally located within these fenestrae and sperm binding occurred preferentially over these fenestrae. Another novel observation was that upon sperm fusion the oocyte ER clusters undergo a maturational event involving an increase in volume, docking to fenestrae in the actin layer. This led us to a hypothesis that the PM overlying ER clusters is…
From the public funding record at NIH RePORTER. Describes the funded project, not the reviews below.