Abstract / Description of output
We postulated an essential role for a cysteine-protease in sea urchins sperm histones degradation which follows fertilization. We now report the purification of this enzyme, the determination of its N-terminal amino acid sequence and the localization of the protein with antibodies generated against this amino-terminal peptide. The immunofluorescence data confirmed the presence of this enzyme in the nucleus of unfertilized eggs. After fertilization labeling is observed both in female and male pronuclei suggesting a rapid recruitment of the enzyme to the male pronuclei. Interestingly, we have found that this cysteine-protease persists in the nucleus of the zygotes during S phase of the cell cycle and co-localizes with alpha-tubulin that organizes the mitotic spindle during the initial embryonic cell division. (C) 2004 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 602-607 |
Number of pages | 6 |
Journal | Journal of Cellular Physiology |
Volume | 202 |
Issue number | 2 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - Feb 2005 |