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Oocyte Fusion

  • Chapter
Manipulation of Mammalian Development

Part of the book series: Developmental Biology ((DEBO,volume 4))

Abstract

Membrane fusion is paramount to many cellular and subcellular functions of eukaryotic cells. It occurs continuously between intracellular organelles. For example, endocytotic vesicles are formed by the fusion of smaller vesicles, which in turn coalesce with components of the Golgi or lysosomes (see review, Meldolesi et al., 1979). Membrane fusion also plays a prominent role in endocytosis of extracellular substances and exocytotic discharge of cellular products or by-products. Partial or complete membrane fusion can occur also between cells. A partial fusion of plasma membranes of two opposing cells takes place during the formation of zona occludens, which are essential in cell-cell communications and in the maintenance of spacial polarity of cells with respect to each other (see reviews, Sheridan, 1976; Papahadjopoulos et al., 1979). Spontaneous fusion of cells without the addition of exogenous chemical fusing agents or viruses occurs as a natural phenomenon during the formation of polykaryote cells. Spontaneous cell-to-cell fusion represents a very specific event; that is, under normal conditions the extent of fusion is regulated by the participant cells. Common to all spontaneous cell fusion is that the nature and the cause of the fusion are not well understood.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Pregnancy Research Branch, National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, 20205, USA

    Bela J. Gulyas

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  1. Bela J. Gulyas
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. The Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Cleveland, Ohio, USA

    Ralph B. L. Gwatkin

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© 1986 Plenum Press, New York

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Gulyas, B.J. (1986). Oocyte Fusion. In: Gwatkin, R.B.L. (eds) Manipulation of Mammalian Development. Developmental Biology, vol 4. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4613-2143-9_3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4613-2143-9_3

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4612-9265-4

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4613-2143-9

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