The role of actin and myosin in ascidian sperm mitochondrial translocation

• Published in: Developmental biology Vol. 106; no. 2; pp. 307 - 314
• Main Authors: Lambert, Charles C., Lambert, Gretchen
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Amsterdam Elsevier Inc 01.12.1984; Elsevier
• Subjects: Actins - isolation & purification; Actins - physiology; Animals; Biological and medical sciences; Fluorescent Antibody Technique; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Invertebrates; Less representative or incertae sedis groups: acanthocephala, chaetognatha, gnathostomulida, lophophoria, merostomata, mesozoa, myxozoa, nematorhyncha, pararthropoda, placozoa, priapuloidea, prochordata, pycnogonida, rotifera; Male; Mitochondria - physiology; Mitochondria - ultrastructure; Myosins - isolation & purification; Myosins - physiology; Spermatozoa - physiology; Urochordata - physiology; Marine environment; Gamete; Intracellular movement; Mitochondria; Spermatozoa; Cell organelle; Myosin; Actins; Contractile protein; Prochordata; Invertebrata; Urochordata
• ISSN: 0012-1606; 1095-564X
• DOI: 10.1016/0012-1606(84)90229-X

Fertilization-related sperm mitochondrial movement occurs at a rate comparable to other actin-myosin-driven movements and is inhibited by cytochalasin B and N-ethyl maleimide in Ascidia ceratodes sperm. F-actin was demonstrated in the tails and mitochondria using NBD-phallacidin fluorescence. Both actin and myosin were also detected on the mitochondrion and in the tail by indirect immunofluorescence. Western blot analysis verified the presence of these proteins. Boltenia villosa and Cnemidocarpa finmarkiensis also have mitochondrion and tail localized actin and myosin. In the tails of all 3 species the fluorescence takes the form of discrete spots 0.25–0.5 μm apart. Boltenia and Cnemidocarpa sperm have additional actin at the tip of the head and additional myosin at the base of the head. The presence of actin and myosin on the mitochondrion and in the tail supports a means by which the force for mitochondrial movement is generated.