Plasma membrane repair in animal cells uses synaptotagmin 7, a Ca(2+)-activated membrane fusion protein that mediates delivery of intracellular membranes to wound sites by a mechanism resembling neuronal Ca(2+)-regulated exocytosis. Here, we show that loss of function of the homologous Arabidopsis thaliana Synaptotagmin 1 protein (SYT1) reduces the viability of cells as a consequence of a decre...

Background Low-density lipoproteins (LDL) is known to protect boar sperm during freezing–thawing, but little information is known about the effects of LDL extracted from different avian egg yolks on post-thaw boar semen quality. The purpose of this study was to compare and analyze the effects of LDL at various concentrations and different species on boar sperm quality after freezing–thawing. Ma...

Experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of different levels of egg yolk for coating and storing spermatozoa. Ejaculates were collected from four rams. In each session, second ejaculates (n=4) were collected in a tube containing 1 mL coating buffers which were prepared by 10, 15 or 20% egg yolk plus Tris-fructose. Samples were pooled, centrifuged and the supernatant removed in the labora...

The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of in vitro supplementation of selenium on fresh and frozen spermatozoa quality of buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) bulls. Five healthy buffalo bulls (5 ejaculates from each bull) were used. Each ejaculate was diluted at 37 ˚C with tris-based extender containing 0 (control), 0.5, 1, 2, 4 and 8 μg mL-1 sodium selenite and the sperm motility and...

Background: Artificial insemination (AI) has been used for increasing genetic potential of animals in production while application of AI has been restricted in buffalo due to low freezing ability and fertility of frozen-thawed buffalo spermatozoa. So improvement in buffalo sperm cryopreservation may enhance the breeding programs of this valuable farm animal. Semen processing is one of the major...

In the canonical model of membrane fusion, the integrity of the fusing membranes is never compromised, preserving the identity of fusing compartments. However, recent molecular simulations provided evidence for a pathway to fusion in which holes in the membrane evolve into a fusion pore. Additionally, two biological membrane fusion models-yeast cell mating and in vitro vacuole fusion-have shown...