MOLECULAR EVOLUTION OF SPERM-EGG RECOGNITION IN MARINE INVERTEBRATES

摘要

Species-specific fertilization in marine invertebrates provides a useful model for studying the evolution of reproductive isolation. As new species evolve, gamete recognition proteins may differentiate, leading to fertilization barriers between species. Recent studies of the molecular evolution of gamete recognition have focused on two sperm proteins, bindins from sea urchins, and lysins from abalone. These proteins appear unrelated, yet show parallels suggesting general features of the evolution offertilization proteins.