Structural studies of fertilisation and zona pellucida module proteins – Luca Jovine's research group

From microscopic algae to gigantic blue whales, the beginning of every sexually reproducing organism on the planet is marked by the encounter between female and male gametes, egg and sperm, at fertilisation. Due to its fundamental role in ensuring the transmission of genetic information between generations, this crucial event has become a true icon of biology that has captivated mankind for centuries. But how does this process actually take place at the molecular level?