Fertilization Flashcards by Andrea Canoy

Union of male and female gametes to form a zygote, initiating development

Fertilization

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

Rapid depolarization of the egg membrane (1-3 seconds) to prevent multiple sperm entry

Fast block to polyspermy

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

Cortical granule reaction modifying the vitelline membrane into a hardened fertilization envelope (~1 minute)

Slow block to polyspermy

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

Sperm organelle containing hydrolytic enzymes for egg penetration

Acrosome

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

Microtubule-based core of sperm flagella, powered by dynein ATPase

Axoneme

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

Sea urchin sperm protein binding species-specifically to EBR1 receptors

Bindin

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

Sea urchin egg receptor for Bindin

EBR1

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

Mammalian sperm’s physiological changes (cholesterol removal) enabling fertilization

Capacitation

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

Sperm movement guided by egg-secreted chemicals (e.g., resact)

Chemotaxis

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

Egg vesicles releasing enzymes to modify the vitelline membrane post-fertilization

Cortical Granules

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

Flagellar motor protein; defects cause Kartagener Triad

Dynein

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

Protective layer formed by cortical granule secretions (mucopolysaccharides, peroxidase)

Fertilization Envelope

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

Substance forming a supportive coating around the fertilized egg

Hyaline

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

Increased sperm motility aiding zona pellucida penetration

Hyperactivation

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

Genetic disorder causing immotile cilia/flagella, situs inversus, and infertility

Kartagener Triad

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

Egg molecules directing cell differentiation (e.g., localized mRNA)

Morphogenic Factors

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

Normal fertilization by a single sperm

Monospermy

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

Abnormal fertilization by multiple sperm, causing developmental failure

Polyspermy

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

Sperm-activating peptide inArbacia punctulataegg jelly

Resact

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

Egg-derived peptides attracting/activating sperm in echinoderms

Sperm-Activating Peptides (SAPs)

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

Sperm navigation via temperature gradients near the oocyte

Thermotaxis

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

Invertebrate egg layer involved in species-specific sperm binding

Vitelline Membrane

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

Mammalian egg’s extracellular matrix mediating sperm binding

Zona Pellucida

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

Fusion of sperm and egg pronuclei to restore diploidy

Amphimixis

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

Signaling molecule triggering calcium release for cortical granule exocytosis

IP3

Sperm movement against fluid flow in the oviduct

Rheotaxis

Enzyme from cortical granules that cleaves sperm-binding receptors

Serine Protease

Enzyme hardening the fertilization envelope (e.g., Ovoperoxidase)

Peroxidase

Cortical granule substances hydrating the perivitelline space

Mucopolysaccharides

Molecule in sea urchin egg jelly triggering the acrosome reaction

Fucose Sulfate

Exocytosis of acrosomal enzymes enabling sperm penetration

Acrosome Reaction

Merging of sperm and egg nuclei to form a diploid zygote

Pronuclei Fusion

Metabolic changes in the egg initiated by calcium waves

Egg Activation

Diploid cell formed by fertilization

Zygote

Site of mammalian fertilization (fallopian tube)

Oviduct

Flagellar movement driven by axonemal dynein

Sperm Motility

Egg-stored nutrients for early development

Yolk Proteins

Egg components enabling protein synthesis post-fertilization

Ribosomes

Egg-stored transcripts encoding early developmental proteins

mRNA

Protective chemicals in eggs against DNA damage

UV Filters

Egg molecules correcting DNA damage

DNA Repair Enzymes

Protective proteins in eggs against pathogens

Antibodies

Oocyte-surrounding cells penetrated by hyperactivated sperm

Cumulus Cells

Organs mirrored in the body (Kartagener Triad symptom)

Situs Inversus

Respiratory symptom of Kartagener Triad

Chronic Sinusitis

Lung damage from immotile cilia (Kartagener Triad)

Bronchiectasis

Acrosomal enzyme digesting egg jelly

Hyaluronidase

Haploid nucleus of sperm/egg before fusion

Pronucleus

Early embryonic cells supported by hyaline coating

Blastomeres

Sea urchin species studied for resact’s role in chemotaxis

Arbacia punctulata

Sea urchin species with fucose sulfate in egg jelly

Strongylocentrotus purpuratus

Scientist who discovered polyspermy blocks in sea urchins

Ernest Everett Just

Journey of sperm through the female reproductive tract

Sperm Translocation

Unfertilized egg cell

Oocyte

Extracellular layer penetrated by sperm via hyperactivation

Cumulus Matrix

Key step in sperm capacitation

Cholesterol Removal

Surface changes in sperm during capacitation

Protein Unmasking

Mechanism preventing cross-species fertilization (e.g., Bindin-EBR1)

Species-Specific Binding

Signal triggering egg activation and cortical granule exocytosis

Calcium Wave

Dynein-driven movement of sperm tails

Flagellar Bending

Mitochondrial function powering sperm motility

ATP Synthesis

Chromosomal state of gametes (n)

Haploid

Chromosomal state restored by fertilization (2n)

Diploid

Reproductive cells (sperm and egg)

Gametes

Chromosomal outcome of fertilization (XX/XY)

Sex Determination

Mixing of parental genes during fertilization

Genetic Recombination

Slow block to polyspermy involving cortical granules

Cortical Reaction

Fast block to polyspermy (voltage change)

Membrane Depolarization

Historical term for egg-secreted sperm-attracting molecules

Fertilizin

State achieved through capacitation

Sperm Competence

Vigorous sperm movement aiding zona penetration

Hyperactivated Motility

Mammalian sperm’s interaction with zona pellucida glycoproteins

Zona Binding

Region between egg membrane and fertilization envelope

Perivitelline Space

Coating supporting blastomere adhesion during cleavage

Hyaline Layer

Motile structures affected in Kartagener Triad

Respiratory Cilia

Cause of male infertility in Kartagener Triad

Flagellar Immotility

Directed movement toward egg-derived chemicals

Sperm Chemotaxis

Extracellular layer containing species-specific chemoattractants

Egg Jelly

Digestive proteins (e.g., hyaluronidase) released during acrosome reaction

Acrosomal Enzymes

Haploid nuclei of sperm and egg before fusion

Pronuclei

Sperm’s passage through granulosa cells via hyperactivation

Cumulus Penetration

Sperm navigation using temperature gradients

Thermal Guidance

Sperm navigation using oocyte-secreted molecules

Chemical Guidance

Increased flagellar bending aiding zona penetration

Sperm Hyperactivation

Egg membrane protrusion engulfing sperm during fusion

Fertilization Cone

Release of enzymes modifying the vitelline membrane

Cortical Granule Exocytosis

Alternative term for vitelline membrane in invertebrates

Vitelline Layer

Proteins (ZP1-4) mediating sperm binding in mammals

Zona Pellucida Glycoproteins

Membrane merger initiating zygote formation

Sperm-Egg Fusion

Signaling waves activating egg metabolism

Calcium Oscillations

Hyaline-mediated cell cohesion during cleavage

Blastomere Adhesion

Transmission of parental DNA via fertilization

Genetic Inheritance

Egg’s transition from quiescence to metabolic activity

Developmental Activation

Neck region containing mitochondria for ATP production

Sperm Midpiece