Wednesday, 23 October 2013

homework - Does Human Female Meiosis II occur after fertilization with sperm?

Meiosis, as you know, have two stages, Meiosis I and II. The oocyte is arrested during metaphase II of MEOISIS II. This arrest is facilitated by a complex called "Cytostatic Factor" (CSF).



After fertilization, the sperm induces a rise in intracellular calcium ion which activates and enzyme, Calmodulin Kinase II. This complex, through a series of phosphorylation and ubiquitination, degrades the CSF comples and in turn, activates APC (Anaphase Promoting Complex). APC will then degrades cyclins, securins and this will promotes the completion of Meiois II.




Sperm must ignite some process in female that puts female meiosis II going on before sperm can fuse with egg.




I think the statement is a bit incorrect. The sperm will ignite (I prefer induce) the above changes and fuse at the same time. Because, what starts all the process above is part of the sperm's cytoplasm that need to be assimilated into the oocyte's cytoplasm.



I hope this clears it all up. Or if you are interested, I can provide the long list of signalling pathways that leads to zygotic development.

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