Zinc protection of fertilized eggs is an ancient feature of sexual reproduction in animals
K. L. Wozniak, R. E. Bainbridge, D. W. Summerville, M. Tembo, W. A. Phelps, M. L. Sauer, B. W. Wisner, M. E. Caekalski, S. Pasumarthy, M. L. Hanson, M. B. Linderman, C. H. Luu, M. E. Boehm, S. M. Sanders, K. M. Buckley, , A. E. Carlson
The paper shows that zinc release by eggs to block polyspermy is an ancient reproductive strategy across multiple animal phyla.
bioRxiv · Jun 8, 2020Physiology