"New insights into plant reproduction: Exploring the Activation Mechanisms of Angiosperm Sperm Cells with Double Membrane Structures"
This project investigates how sperm cells in flowering plants prepare for fertilization. Unlike animal sperm, sperm cells in flowering plants are non-motile and are delivered to the egg cell via a tubular structure called the pollen tube. The sperm cells have a double membrane structure, surrounded by a unique membrane called the peri-germ cell membrane. Exposing the sperm cell surface through selective breakdown of the peri-germ cell membrane should be a crucial step for fertilization. This project focuses on the rapid changes that sperm cells undergo just before fertilization, referred to as the sperm cell activation process, and aims to identify the key functional molecules involved. By uncovering fundamental mechanisms of sperm cell activation, this project will advance our understanding of plant fertilization and may contribute to future improvements in crop breeding.
Activities / Resume
BIOGRAPHY
Naoya Sugi obtained a PhD in Agricultural Science from the University of Tsukuba in Japan. He is a researcher at Yokohama City University.