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Mammalian Egg Activation: The Roles Of Trpv3 Channels And Plcz1, Hoi Chang Lee

Doctoral Dissertations

Calcium channels at the plasma membrane have been suggested to mediate Ca²⁺ influx during egg activation. The transient receptor potential (TRP) Ca²⁺ channel, TRPV3, is differentially expressed in oocytes during maturation, being fully active at MII stage. Specific stimulation of TRPV3 channels in mouse eggs promotes Ca²⁺ influx sufficient to induce egg activation and parthenogenesis. In chapter 2, we explore the function and distribution dynamics of the TRPV3 channel protein during oocyte maturation. Using dsRNA, TrpV3 overexpression, and inhibitors of protein synthesis, we modified the native expression of the channel and showed that the TRPV3 protein is …