INDUCTION OF POLYSPERMY IN SEA-URCHIN EGGS BY ANTIBODIES RAISED AGAINST A HAMSTER SPERM PROTEIN

Polyclonal antibodies raised against a hamster sperm protein (P26h) in duce polyspermic fertilizations in the green sea urchin without affect ing the fertilizing ability of the spermatozoa nor the elevation of th e fertilization membrane. While the adsorption of the antibodies on sp erm decreased the polyspermic effect, preincubation of unfertilized eg gs with the anti-P26h did not cause polyspermy. These results suggest that common epitopes are involved in fertilization processes in phylog enetically distant species. (C) 1994 Academic Press, Inc.