Apparent involvement of a β1 type integrin in coral fertilization

Iguchi, Akira, Márquez, Luis M., Knack, Brent, Shinzato, Chuya, van Oppen, Madeleine J.H., Willis, Bette L., Hardie, Kate, Catmull, Julian, and Miller, David J. (2007) Apparent involvement of a β1 type integrin in coral fertilization. Marine Biotechnology, 9 (6). pp. 760-765.

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Abstract

Integrins are involved in a wide variety of cell adhesion processes, and have roles in gamete binding and fusion in mammals. Integrins have been also discovered in the scleractinian coral Acropora millepora (Cnidaria: Anthozoa). As a first step toward understanding the molecular basis of fertilization in corals, we examined the effect of polyclonal antisera raised against recombinant coral integrins on gamete interactions in A. millepora. Antiserum raised against integrin βcn1 dramatically decreased the binding of Acropora sperm to eggs and significantly decreased fertilization rates relative to preimmune serum and seawater controls. However, the antiserum against AmIntegrin α1 did not affect significantly either sperm–egg binding or fertilization. One possible explanation for this is that AmIntegrin α1 may preferentially mediate interactions with RGD-containing ligands, whereas mammalian α6 integrin (which is most directly implicated in gamete interactions) preferentially interacts with laminin-related ligands. Our results suggest that β1 type integrins are involved in the fertilization process in Acropora and that some functions of these molecules may have been conserved between corals and mammals.

Item ID: 2893
Item Type: Article (Research - C1)
ISSN: 1436-2236
Keywords: Acropora millepora; coral; fertilization; gamete interaction; integrin
Date Deposited: 22 Sep 2009 07:00
FoR Codes: 06 BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES > 0602 Ecology > 060299 Ecology not elsewhere classified @ 100%
SEO Codes: 97 EXPANDING KNOWLEDGE > 970106 Expanding Knowledge in the Biological Sciences @ 100%
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