| First Author | Dietzel E | Year | 2013 |
| Journal | Dev Cell | Volume | 25 |
| Issue | 1 | Pages | 106-12 |
| PubMed ID | 23562279 | Mgi Jnum | J:196435 |
| Mgi Id | MGI:5488517 | Doi | 10.1016/j.devcel.2013.03.001 |
| Citation | Dietzel E, et al. (2013) Fetuin-B, a liver-derived plasma protein is essential for fertilization. Dev Cell 25(1):106-12 |
| abstractText | The zona pellucida (ZP) is a glycoprotein matrix surrounding mammalian oocytes. Upon fertilization, ZP hardening prevents sperm from binding to and penetrating the ZP. Here, we report that targeted gene deletion of the liver-derived plasma protein fetuin-B causes premature ZP hardening and, consequently, female infertility. Transplanting fetuin-B-deficient ovaries into wild-type recipients restores fertility, indicating that plasma fetuin-B is necessary and sufficient for fertilization. In vitro fertilization of oocytes from fetuin-B-deficient mice only worked after rendering the ZP penetrable by laser perforation. Mechanistically, fetuin-B sustains fertility by inhibiting ovastacin, a cortical granula protease known to trigger ZP hardening. Thus, plasma fetuin-B is necessary to restrain protease activity and thereby maintain ZP permeability until after gamete fusion. These results also show that premature ZP hardening can cause infertility in mice. |
