Focuses on the great diversity of zona pellucida domain (ZPD) proteins in mammalian and non-mammalian animal species and the roles of ZPD proteins in biology
A ZPD is present in proteins that constitute the extracellular coats of mammalian and non-mammalian eggs, as well as in hundreds of other extracellular proteins found in multicellular organisms. ZPD mutations can result in Crohn’s disease, deafness, cancer, or infertility.
A Guide to Zona Pellucida Domain Proteins provides a clear, comprehensive presentation of key features of ZPD proteins, from their structure and function to their evolution. Features include:
A description of the synthesis and structure of mouse ZP proteins, prototypical ZPD proteins, followed by a description of ZPD structure and function, evolution of ZPD proteins, and use of mammalian ZP proteins as anti-fertility vaccines
A survey of ZP proteins in mammals, from monotremes to placental mammals
A survey of ZPD proteins in mammals, from platypus to human beings
A survey of ZPD proteins in non-mammals, from jellyfish to birds
References and Summary Tables of comparative data on ZPD proteins
Appendix with Tables of comparative data on mammalian and non-mammalian ZPD proteins
Written with advanced undergraduate students, graduate students, and practicing scientists in mind, the Guide should be useful to anyone interested in learning about or working on ZPD proteins.
About the Author
Eveline S. Litscher, Ph.D., is Assistant Professor in the Department of Developmental and Regenerative Biology at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York City. Previously a Swiss National Science Foundation post-doctoral fellow in the Department of Cell and Developmental Biology at the Roche Institute of Molecular Biology, she has more than 20 years of research experience working on extracellular coat proteins of mammalian and non-mammalian eggs, and has published more than 45 primary papers and reviews.
Paul M. Wassarman, Ph.D., is Professor in the Department of Developmental and Regenerative Biology at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York City. Previously a faculty member in the Department of Biological Chemistry at Harvard Medical School and in the Department of Cell and Developmental Biology at the Roche Institute of Molecular Biology, he has more than 35 years of research experience working on extracellular coat proteins of mammalian and non-mammalian eggs, and has published more than 220 primary papers and reviews.
