Most biological processes are carried out by enzymes and proteins that are very similar or identical in nearly all species. In contrast, although some general features of fertilization are common to all animals, the specific cellular and molecular events comprising it vary widely. Thus, fertilization is largely species-specific. The molecular basis of this species-specificity is unknown. The goal of my research is to understand gamete interactions at the molecular level.
Mucins can either promote or inhibit cell adhesion.
Nascent zonadhesin is larger than the summed subunit sizes of zonadhesin that binds to the zona pellucida. Thus proteolytic processing occurs that may be important for generation of binding activity. These differences may be important determinants of species-specific binding activity. The function of zonadhesin in sperm-egg recognition and signaling. Discovery of new sperm molecules that function during fertilization.