Activation of mouse oocytes requires multiple sperm factors but not sperm PLCgamma1.

A sperm cytosolic factor is responsible for oocyte activation at fertilization in mammals. The molecular identity of this factor is not yet known, although a sperm phospholipase Cgamma (PLCgamma) is a potential candidate. In this study, cation-exchange chromatography with a Heparin column was used for the fractionation of porcine sperm cytosolic extracts.

The structures of the human neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptor beta2- and alpha3-subunit genes (CHRNB2 and CHRNA3).

The alpha4-subunit gene (CHRNA4) of the neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) subunit family has recently been identified in two families as the gene responsible for autosomal dominant nocturnal frontal lobe epilepsy (ADNFLE), a rare monogenic idiopathic epilepsy. As a result of this finding, other subunits of the neuronal nAChR gene family are being considered as candidate genes for ADNFLE in families not linked to CHRNA4 and for other idiopathic epilepsies. Alpha4-subunits often assemble together with beta2-subunits (gene symbol CHRNB2) to build heteromeric nAChRs.