Yr Athro Karl Swann
Pennaeth Adran Biofeddygaeth
- Ar gael fel goruchwyliwr ôl-raddedig
Trosolwyg
I am interested in cell signalling and metabolism during animal fertilization and early embryo development. I use live cell imaging methods including those based on fluorescence and chemiluminescence.
Selected projects are:
1. The role and mechanism of action of PLCzeta in causing Ca2+ oscillation in eggs at fertilization
2. The relationship between Ca2+ and mitochondrial ATP production in eggs
3. Lipid droplets and lipid metabolism in eggs and early embryos using CARS microscopy
Roles
- Head of Biomedicine Division
- Deputy Module Leader and teaching on BI2331 Physiology
- Teaching on BI2231 Cell Biology
- Supervision of projects for Final Year Undergraduate and Masters students
Cyhoeddiad
2024
- Swann, K. 2024. The characteristics of the Ca2+ signals that activate mammalian eggs at fertilization. Current Topics in Developmental Biology (10.1016/bs.ctdb.2024.12.002)
- Saleh, A. et al. 2024. Development of recombinant PLC-zeta protein as a therapeutic intervention for the clinical treatment of Oocyte Activation Failure. Biomedicines 12(6), article number: 1183. (10.3390/biomedicines12061183)
2023
- -Eshalomi, C., Aliyev, E., Hoehn, S., Jurkowski, T. P. and Swann, K. 2023. Sperm induce a secondary increase in ATP levels in mouse eggs that is independent of Ca2+ oscillations. Biochemical Journal 480(24), pp. 2023-2035. (10.1042/bcj20230065)
- Swann, K. 2023. Sperm-induced Ca2+ release in mammalian eggs: The roles of PLCζ, InsP3, and ATP. Cells 12(24), article number: 2809. (10.3390/cells12242809)
- Biolková, M. et al. 2023. Investigation of potential gender bias in the peer review system at Reproduction. Learned Publishing 36(1), pp. 25-30. (10.1002/leap.1537)
2022
- Swann, K. 2022. PLCzeta as the sperm factor that activates eggs: 20 years on. Reproduction 164(1), pp. E1-E4. (10.1530/REP-22-0148)
- Thanassoulas, A., Swann, K., Lai, F. A. and Nomikos, M. 2022. Sperm factors and egg activation: the structure and function relationship of sperm plcz1. Reproduction 164(1), pp. F1-F8. (10.1530/REP-21-0477)
- Wang, Y., Pope, I., Brennan-Craddock, H., Poole, E., Langbein, W., Borri, P. and Swann, K. 2022. A primary effect of palmitic acid on mouse oocytes is the disruption of the structure of the endoplasmic reticulum. Reproduction 163(1), pp. 45-56. (10.1530/REP-21-0332)
2021
- Graham, C. F. et al. 2021. Dynamic shapes of the zygote and two-cell mouse and human. Biology Open 10(12), article number: bio059013. (10.1242/bio.059013)
- Ostler, T. et al. 2021. Vitrifying multiple embryos in different arrangements does not alter the cooling rate. Cryobiology 103, pp. 22-31. (10.1016/j.cryobiol.2021.10.001)
- Pope, I. et al. 2021. Background-free 3D four-wave mixing microscopy of single gold nanoparticles inside biological systems. Presented at: European Conference on Biomedical Optics 2021, Munich, Germany, 20-24 June 2021European Conferences on Biomedical Optics 2021 (ECBO). OSA Technical Digest Optical Society of America pp. EM3B.6.
- Storey, A., Elgmati, K., Wang, Y., Knaggs, P. and Swann, K. 2021. The role of ATP in the differential ability of Sr2+ to trigger Ca2+ oscillations in mouse and human eggs. Molecular Human Reproduction 27(1), article number: gaaa086. (10.1093/molehr/gaaa086)
2020
- Swann, K. 2020. The soluble sperm factor that activates the egg: PLCzeta and beyond. Reproduction 160(1) (10.1530/REP-20-0079)
2019
- Bradley, J., Pope, I., Wang, Y., Langbein, W., Borri, P. and Swann, K. 2019. Dynamic label-free imaging of lipid droplets and their link to fatty acid and pyruvate oxidation in mouse eggs. Journal of Cell Science 132(13), article number: jcs228999. (10.1242/jcs.228999)
- Bradley, J. and Swann, K. 2019. Mitochondria and lipid metabolism in mammalian oocytes and early embryos. International Journal of Developmental Biology 63(3-4-5), pp. 93-103. (10.1387/ijdb.180355ks)
- Borri, P., Bradley, J., Pope, I., Langbein, W. and Swann, K. 2019. Imaging lipids in living mammalian oocytes and early embryos by coherent Raman scattering microscopy. Presented at: SPIE BIOS, San Francisco, CA, USA, 2-7 February 2019Proceedings Volume 10890, Label-free Biomedical Imaging and Sensing (LBIS) 2019, Vol. 108900. Society of Photo-Optical Instrumentation Engineers (SPIE) pp. 3., (10.1117/12.2506248)
2018
- Swann, K. 2018. The role of Ca 2+ in oocyte activation during In Vitro fertilization: Insights into potential therapies for rescuing failed fertilization. BBA - Molecular Cell Research 1865(11), pp. 1830-1837. (10.1016/j.bbamcr.2018.05.003)
- Pope, I. et al. 2018. Coherent Raman Scattering microscopy: technology developments and biological applications. Presented at: 20th International Conference on Transparent Optical Networks (ICTON), Bucharest, Romania, 1-5 Jul 201820th International Conference on Transparent Optical Networks (ICTON). IEEE, (10.1109/ICTON.2018.8473706)
- FitzHarris, G., Carroll, J. and Swann, K. 2018. Electrical-assisted microinjection for analysis of fertilization and cell division in mammalian oocytes and early embryos. Methods in Cell Biology 144, pp. 431-440. (10.1016/bs.mcb.2018.03.036)
- Sanders, J., Ashley, B., Moon, A., Woolley, T. and Swann, K. 2018. PLCz induced Ca2+ oscillations in mouse eggs involve a positive feedback cycle of Ca2+ induced InsP3 formation from cytoplasmic PIP2. Frontiers in Cell and Developmental Biology 6, article number: 36. (10.3389/fcell.2018.00036)
2017
- Nomikos, M., Swann, K. and Lai, F. A. 2017. Fundamental role for sperm phospholipase C ζ in mammalian fertilization. In: De Jonge, C. J. and Barratt, C. L. R. eds. The Sperm Cell. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, pp. 177-192., (10.1017/9781316411124.014)
- Nomikos, M. et al. 2017. Male infertility-linked point mutation reveals a vital binding role for the C2 domain of sperm PLCζ. Biochemical Journal 474(6), pp. 1003-1016. (10.1042/BCJ20161057)
- Kashir, J. et al. 2017. Antigen unmasking enhances visualization efficacy of the oocyte activation factor, phospholipase C zeta, in mammalian sperm. Molecular Human Reproduction 23(1), pp. 54-67. (10.1093/molehr/gaw073)
2016
- Sanders, J. R. and Swann, K. 2016. Molecular triggers of egg activation at fertilization in mammals. Reproduction 152(2), article number: R41. (10.1530/REP-16-0123)
- Bradley, J., Pope, I., Masia, F., Sanusi, R., Langbein, W., Swann, K. and Borri, P. 2016. Quantitative imaging of lipids in live mouse oocytes and early embryos using CARS microscopy. Development 143, pp. 2238-2247. (10.1242/dev.129908)
- Swann, K. and Lai, F. A. 2016. The sperm phospholipase C-ζ and Ca2+ signalling at fertilization in mammals. Biochemical Society Transactions 44(1), pp. 267-272. (10.1042/BST20150221)
- Haverfield, J. et al. 2016. Ca2+ dynamics in oocytes from naturally-aged mice. Scientific Reports 6, article number: 19357. (10.1038/srep19357)
- Swann, K. and Lai, F. A. 2016. Egg activation at fertilization by a soluble sperm protein. Physiological Reviews 96(1), pp. 127-149. (10.1152/physrev.00012.2015)
2015
- Nomikos, M. et al. 2015. Essential role of the EF-hand domain in targeting sperm phospholipase Cζ to membrane phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate (PIP2). Journal of Biological Chemistry 290(49), pp. 29519-29530. (10.1074/jbc.M115.658443)
- Sanusi, R., Yu, Y., Nomikos, M., Lai, F. A. and Swann, K. 2015. Rescue of failed oocyte activation after ICSI in a mouse model of male factor infertility by recombinant phospholipase Cζ. Molecular Human Reproduction 21(10), pp. 783-791. (10.1093/molehr/gav042)
- Nomikos, M. et al. 2015. Functional disparity between human PAWP and PLCζ in the generation of Ca2+ oscillations for oocyte activation. Molecular Human Reproduction 21(9), pp. 702-710. (10.1093/molehr/gav034)
- Kashir, J., Nomikos, M., Swann, K. and Lai, F. 2015. PLCζ or PAWP: revisiting the putative mammalian sperm factor that triggers egg activation and embryogenesis. Molecular Human Reproduction 21(5), pp. 383-388. (10.1093/molehr/gav009)
- Nomikos, M., Swann, K. and Lai, F. A. 2015. Is PAWP the 'real' sperm factor?. Asian Journal of Andrology 17(3), pp. 444-446. (10.4103/1008-682X.142145)
2014
- Nomikos, M. et al. 2014. Sperm-specific post-acrosomal WW-domain binding protein (PAWP) does not cause Ca2+ release in mouse oocytes. Molecular Human Reproduction 20(10), pp. 938-947. (10.1093/molehr/gau056)
- Kashir, J., Nomikos, M., Lai, F. and Swann, K. 2014. Sperm-induced Ca2+ release during egg activation in mammals. Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications 450(3), pp. 1204-1211. (10.1016/j.bbrc.2014.04.078)
- Nomikos, M. et al. 2014. Human PLCζ exhibits superior fertilization potency over mouse PLCζ in triggering the Ca2+ oscillations required for mammalian oocyte activation. Molecular Human Reproduction 20(6), pp. 489-498. (10.1093/molehr/gau011)
- Gonzalez-Garcia, J. R., Bradley, J., Nomikos, M., Paul, L., Machaty, Z., Lai, F. A. and Swann, K. 2014. The dynamics of MAPK inactivation at fertilization in mouse eggs. Journal of Cell Science 127(12), pp. 2749-2760. (10.1242/jcs.145045)
- Fourrage, C., Swann, K., Gonzalez Garcia, J. R., Campbell, A. K. and Houliston, E. 2014. An endogenous green fluorescent protein-photoprotein pair in Clytia hemisphaerica eggs shows co-targeting to mitochondria and efficient bioluminescence energy transfer. Open Biology 4(4), pp. 130206. (10.1098/rsob.130206)
2013
- Theodoridou, M. et al. 2013. Chimeras of sperm PLCζ reveal disparate protein domain functions in the generation of intracellular Ca2+ oscillations in mammalian eggs at fertilization. Molecular Human Reproduction 19(12), pp. 852-864. (10.1093/molehr/gat070)
- Swann, K. and Lai, F. A. 2013. PLCζ and the initiation of Ca2+ oscillations in fertilizing mammalian eggs. Cell Calcium 53(1), pp. 55-62. (10.1016/j.ceca.2012.11.001)
- Gonzalez Garcia, J., Machaty, Z., Lai, F. A. and Swann, K. 2013. The dynamics of PKC-induced phosphorylation triggered by Ca2+oscillations in mouse eggs. Journal of Cellular Physiology 228(1), pp. 110-119. (10.1002/jcp.24110)
- Nomikos, M. et al. 2013. Phospholipase Cζ rescues failed oocyte activation in a prototype of male factor infertility. Fertility and Sterility 99(1), pp. 76-85. (10.1016/j.fertnstert.2012.08.035)
- Swann, K. 2013. Measuring Ca2+ Oscillations in Mammalian Eggs. In: Homer, H. A. ed. Mammalian Oocyte Regulation., Vol. 957. Methods in Molecular Biology Humana Press, pp. 231-248., (10.1007/978-1-62703-191-2_16)
2012
- Swann, K. et al. 2012. Phospholipase C-ζ-induced Ca2+ oscillations cause coincident cytoplasmic movements in human oocytes that failed to fertilize after intracytoplasmic sperm injection. Fertility and Sterility 97(3), pp. 742-747. (10.1016/j.fertnstert.2011.12.013)
- Yu, Y., Nomikos, M., Theodoridou, M., Nounesis, G., Lai, F. A. and Swann, K. 2012. PLCζ causes Ca2+ oscillations in mouse eggs by targeting intracellular and not plasma membrane PI(4,5)P2. Molecular Biology of the Cell 23(2), pp. 371-380. (10.1091/mbc.E11-08-0687)
2011
- Nomikos, M., Elgmati, K., Theodoridou, M., Calver, B. L., Nounesis, G., Swann, K. and Lai, F. A. 2011. Phospholipase C binding to PtdIns(4,5)P2 requires the XY-linker region. Journal of Cell Science 124(15), pp. 2582-2590. (10.1242/jcs.083485)
- Ajduk, A. et al. 2011. Rhythmic actomyosin-driven contractions induced by sperm entry predict mammalian embryo viability. Nature Communications 2, article number: 417. (10.1038/ncomms1424)
- Nomikos, M. et al. 2011. Male infertility-linked point mutation disrupts the Ca2+oscillation-inducing and PIP2hydrolysis activity of sperm PLCζ. Biochemical Journal 434(2), pp. 211-217. (10.1042/BJ20101772)
- Nomikos, M. et al. 2011. Novel regulation of PLCζ activity via its XY-linker. Biochemical Journal 438, pp. 427-432. (10.1042/BJ20110953)
- Phillips, S. V. et al. 2011. Divergent effect of mammalian PLC-zeta in generating Ca2+ oscillations in somatic cells versus eggs. Biochemical Journal 438, pp. 545-533. (10.1042/BJ20101581)
- Nomikos, M., Swann, K. and Lai, F. A. 2011. Starting a new life: Sperm PLC-zeta mobilizes the Ca2+ signal that induces egg activation and embryo development. BioEssays 34(2), pp. 126-134. (10.1002/bies.201100127)
- Nomikos, M. et al. 2011. Male infertility-linked point mutation disrupts the Ca2+ oscillation-inducing and PIP2 hydrolysis activity of sperm PLCζ [Erratum]. The Biochemical Journal 435(3), pp. 791.
2010
- Yu, Y., Dumollard, R., Rossbach, A., Lai, F. A. and Swann, K. 2010. Redistribution of mitochondria leads to bursts of ATP production during spontaneous mouse oocyte maturation. Journal of Cellular Physiology 224(3), pp. 672-680. (10.1002/jcp.22171)
2009
- Dumollard, R., Carroll, J., Duchen, M. R., Campbell, K. and Swann, K. 2009. Mitochondrial function and redox state in mammalian embryos. Seminars in Cell and Developmental Biology 20(3), pp. 346-353. (10.1016/j.semcdb.2008.12.013)
2008
- Ajduk, A. M., Ciemerych, M. A., Nixon, V., Swann, K. and Maleszewski, M. 2008. Fertilization differently affects the levels of cyclin B1 and M-phase promoting factor activity in maturing and metaphase II mouse oocytes. Reproduction 136(6), pp. 741-752. (10.1530/REP-08-0271)
- Yu, Y., Halet, G., Lai, F. A. and Swann, K. 2008. Regulation of diacylglycerol production and protein kinase C stimulation during sperm- and PLCζ-mediated mouse egg activation. Biology of the Cell 100(11), pp. 633-643. (10.1042/BC20080033)
- Dumollard, R., Campbell, K., Halet, G., Carroll, J. and Swann, K. 2008. Regulation of cytosolic and mitochondrial ATP levels in mouse eggs and zygotes. Developmental Biology 316(2), pp. 431-440. (10.1016/j.ydbio.2008.02.004)
- Yu, Y., Saunders, C. M., Lai, F. A. and Swann, K. 2008. Preimplantation development of mouse oocytes activated by different levels of human phospholipase C zeta. Human Reproduction 23(2), pp. 365-373. (10.1093/humrep/dem350)
2006
- Campbell, K. and Swann, K. 2006. Ca2+ oscillations stimulate an ATP increase during fertilization of mouse eggs. Developmental Biology 298(1), pp. 225-233. (10.1016/j.ydbio.2006.06.032)
2005
- Nomikos, M. et al. 2005. Role of phospholipase C-zeta domains in Ca2+-dependent phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate hydrolysis and cytoplasmic Ca2+ oscillations. Journal of biological chemistry 280(35), pp. 31011-31018. (10.1074/jbc.M500629200)
2004
- Rogers, N. T., Hobson, E., Pickering, S., Lai, F. A., Braude, P. and Swann, K. 2004. Phospholipase Cζ causes Ca2+ oscillations and parthenogenetic activation of human oocytes. Reproduction 128(6), pp. 697-702. (10.1530/rep.1.00484)
- Larman, M. G., Saunders, C. M., Carroll, J., Lai, F. A. and Swann, K. 2004. Cell cycle-dependent Ca2+ oscillations in mouse embryos are regulated by nuclear targeting of PLCzeta. Journal of cell science 117(12), pp. 2513-2521. (10.1242/jcs.01109)
2002
- Saunders, C. M. et al. 2002. PLC zeta: a sperm-specific trigger of Ca(2+) oscillations in eggs and embryo development. Development 129(15), pp. 3533-3544.
Articles
- Swann, K. 2024. The characteristics of the Ca2+ signals that activate mammalian eggs at fertilization. Current Topics in Developmental Biology (10.1016/bs.ctdb.2024.12.002)
- Saleh, A. et al. 2024. Development of recombinant PLC-zeta protein as a therapeutic intervention for the clinical treatment of Oocyte Activation Failure. Biomedicines 12(6), article number: 1183. (10.3390/biomedicines12061183)
- -Eshalomi, C., Aliyev, E., Hoehn, S., Jurkowski, T. P. and Swann, K. 2023. Sperm induce a secondary increase in ATP levels in mouse eggs that is independent of Ca2+ oscillations. Biochemical Journal 480(24), pp. 2023-2035. (10.1042/bcj20230065)
- Swann, K. 2023. Sperm-induced Ca2+ release in mammalian eggs: The roles of PLCζ, InsP3, and ATP. Cells 12(24), article number: 2809. (10.3390/cells12242809)
- Biolková, M. et al. 2023. Investigation of potential gender bias in the peer review system at Reproduction. Learned Publishing 36(1), pp. 25-30. (10.1002/leap.1537)
- Swann, K. 2022. PLCzeta as the sperm factor that activates eggs: 20 years on. Reproduction 164(1), pp. E1-E4. (10.1530/REP-22-0148)
- Thanassoulas, A., Swann, K., Lai, F. A. and Nomikos, M. 2022. Sperm factors and egg activation: the structure and function relationship of sperm plcz1. Reproduction 164(1), pp. F1-F8. (10.1530/REP-21-0477)
- Wang, Y., Pope, I., Brennan-Craddock, H., Poole, E., Langbein, W., Borri, P. and Swann, K. 2022. A primary effect of palmitic acid on mouse oocytes is the disruption of the structure of the endoplasmic reticulum. Reproduction 163(1), pp. 45-56. (10.1530/REP-21-0332)
- Graham, C. F. et al. 2021. Dynamic shapes of the zygote and two-cell mouse and human. Biology Open 10(12), article number: bio059013. (10.1242/bio.059013)
- Ostler, T. et al. 2021. Vitrifying multiple embryos in different arrangements does not alter the cooling rate. Cryobiology 103, pp. 22-31. (10.1016/j.cryobiol.2021.10.001)
- Storey, A., Elgmati, K., Wang, Y., Knaggs, P. and Swann, K. 2021. The role of ATP in the differential ability of Sr2+ to trigger Ca2+ oscillations in mouse and human eggs. Molecular Human Reproduction 27(1), article number: gaaa086. (10.1093/molehr/gaaa086)
- Swann, K. 2020. The soluble sperm factor that activates the egg: PLCzeta and beyond. Reproduction 160(1) (10.1530/REP-20-0079)
- Bradley, J., Pope, I., Wang, Y., Langbein, W., Borri, P. and Swann, K. 2019. Dynamic label-free imaging of lipid droplets and their link to fatty acid and pyruvate oxidation in mouse eggs. Journal of Cell Science 132(13), article number: jcs228999. (10.1242/jcs.228999)
- Bradley, J. and Swann, K. 2019. Mitochondria and lipid metabolism in mammalian oocytes and early embryos. International Journal of Developmental Biology 63(3-4-5), pp. 93-103. (10.1387/ijdb.180355ks)
- Swann, K. 2018. The role of Ca 2+ in oocyte activation during In Vitro fertilization: Insights into potential therapies for rescuing failed fertilization. BBA - Molecular Cell Research 1865(11), pp. 1830-1837. (10.1016/j.bbamcr.2018.05.003)
- FitzHarris, G., Carroll, J. and Swann, K. 2018. Electrical-assisted microinjection for analysis of fertilization and cell division in mammalian oocytes and early embryos. Methods in Cell Biology 144, pp. 431-440. (10.1016/bs.mcb.2018.03.036)
- Sanders, J., Ashley, B., Moon, A., Woolley, T. and Swann, K. 2018. PLCz induced Ca2+ oscillations in mouse eggs involve a positive feedback cycle of Ca2+ induced InsP3 formation from cytoplasmic PIP2. Frontiers in Cell and Developmental Biology 6, article number: 36. (10.3389/fcell.2018.00036)
- Nomikos, M. et al. 2017. Male infertility-linked point mutation reveals a vital binding role for the C2 domain of sperm PLCζ. Biochemical Journal 474(6), pp. 1003-1016. (10.1042/BCJ20161057)
- Kashir, J. et al. 2017. Antigen unmasking enhances visualization efficacy of the oocyte activation factor, phospholipase C zeta, in mammalian sperm. Molecular Human Reproduction 23(1), pp. 54-67. (10.1093/molehr/gaw073)
- Sanders, J. R. and Swann, K. 2016. Molecular triggers of egg activation at fertilization in mammals. Reproduction 152(2), article number: R41. (10.1530/REP-16-0123)
- Bradley, J., Pope, I., Masia, F., Sanusi, R., Langbein, W., Swann, K. and Borri, P. 2016. Quantitative imaging of lipids in live mouse oocytes and early embryos using CARS microscopy. Development 143, pp. 2238-2247. (10.1242/dev.129908)
- Swann, K. and Lai, F. A. 2016. The sperm phospholipase C-ζ and Ca2+ signalling at fertilization in mammals. Biochemical Society Transactions 44(1), pp. 267-272. (10.1042/BST20150221)
- Haverfield, J. et al. 2016. Ca2+ dynamics in oocytes from naturally-aged mice. Scientific Reports 6, article number: 19357. (10.1038/srep19357)
- Swann, K. and Lai, F. A. 2016. Egg activation at fertilization by a soluble sperm protein. Physiological Reviews 96(1), pp. 127-149. (10.1152/physrev.00012.2015)
- Nomikos, M. et al. 2015. Essential role of the EF-hand domain in targeting sperm phospholipase Cζ to membrane phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate (PIP2). Journal of Biological Chemistry 290(49), pp. 29519-29530. (10.1074/jbc.M115.658443)
- Sanusi, R., Yu, Y., Nomikos, M., Lai, F. A. and Swann, K. 2015. Rescue of failed oocyte activation after ICSI in a mouse model of male factor infertility by recombinant phospholipase Cζ. Molecular Human Reproduction 21(10), pp. 783-791. (10.1093/molehr/gav042)
- Nomikos, M. et al. 2015. Functional disparity between human PAWP and PLCζ in the generation of Ca2+ oscillations for oocyte activation. Molecular Human Reproduction 21(9), pp. 702-710. (10.1093/molehr/gav034)
- Kashir, J., Nomikos, M., Swann, K. and Lai, F. 2015. PLCζ or PAWP: revisiting the putative mammalian sperm factor that triggers egg activation and embryogenesis. Molecular Human Reproduction 21(5), pp. 383-388. (10.1093/molehr/gav009)
- Nomikos, M., Swann, K. and Lai, F. A. 2015. Is PAWP the 'real' sperm factor?. Asian Journal of Andrology 17(3), pp. 444-446. (10.4103/1008-682X.142145)
- Nomikos, M. et al. 2014. Sperm-specific post-acrosomal WW-domain binding protein (PAWP) does not cause Ca2+ release in mouse oocytes. Molecular Human Reproduction 20(10), pp. 938-947. (10.1093/molehr/gau056)
- Kashir, J., Nomikos, M., Lai, F. and Swann, K. 2014. Sperm-induced Ca2+ release during egg activation in mammals. Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications 450(3), pp. 1204-1211. (10.1016/j.bbrc.2014.04.078)
- Nomikos, M. et al. 2014. Human PLCζ exhibits superior fertilization potency over mouse PLCζ in triggering the Ca2+ oscillations required for mammalian oocyte activation. Molecular Human Reproduction 20(6), pp. 489-498. (10.1093/molehr/gau011)
- Gonzalez-Garcia, J. R., Bradley, J., Nomikos, M., Paul, L., Machaty, Z., Lai, F. A. and Swann, K. 2014. The dynamics of MAPK inactivation at fertilization in mouse eggs. Journal of Cell Science 127(12), pp. 2749-2760. (10.1242/jcs.145045)
- Fourrage, C., Swann, K., Gonzalez Garcia, J. R., Campbell, A. K. and Houliston, E. 2014. An endogenous green fluorescent protein-photoprotein pair in Clytia hemisphaerica eggs shows co-targeting to mitochondria and efficient bioluminescence energy transfer. Open Biology 4(4), pp. 130206. (10.1098/rsob.130206)
- Theodoridou, M. et al. 2013. Chimeras of sperm PLCζ reveal disparate protein domain functions in the generation of intracellular Ca2+ oscillations in mammalian eggs at fertilization. Molecular Human Reproduction 19(12), pp. 852-864. (10.1093/molehr/gat070)
- Swann, K. and Lai, F. A. 2013. PLCζ and the initiation of Ca2+ oscillations in fertilizing mammalian eggs. Cell Calcium 53(1), pp. 55-62. (10.1016/j.ceca.2012.11.001)
- Gonzalez Garcia, J., Machaty, Z., Lai, F. A. and Swann, K. 2013. The dynamics of PKC-induced phosphorylation triggered by Ca2+oscillations in mouse eggs. Journal of Cellular Physiology 228(1), pp. 110-119. (10.1002/jcp.24110)
- Nomikos, M. et al. 2013. Phospholipase Cζ rescues failed oocyte activation in a prototype of male factor infertility. Fertility and Sterility 99(1), pp. 76-85. (10.1016/j.fertnstert.2012.08.035)
- Swann, K. et al. 2012. Phospholipase C-ζ-induced Ca2+ oscillations cause coincident cytoplasmic movements in human oocytes that failed to fertilize after intracytoplasmic sperm injection. Fertility and Sterility 97(3), pp. 742-747. (10.1016/j.fertnstert.2011.12.013)
- Yu, Y., Nomikos, M., Theodoridou, M., Nounesis, G., Lai, F. A. and Swann, K. 2012. PLCζ causes Ca2+ oscillations in mouse eggs by targeting intracellular and not plasma membrane PI(4,5)P2. Molecular Biology of the Cell 23(2), pp. 371-380. (10.1091/mbc.E11-08-0687)
- Nomikos, M., Elgmati, K., Theodoridou, M., Calver, B. L., Nounesis, G., Swann, K. and Lai, F. A. 2011. Phospholipase C binding to PtdIns(4,5)P2 requires the XY-linker region. Journal of Cell Science 124(15), pp. 2582-2590. (10.1242/jcs.083485)
- Ajduk, A. et al. 2011. Rhythmic actomyosin-driven contractions induced by sperm entry predict mammalian embryo viability. Nature Communications 2, article number: 417. (10.1038/ncomms1424)
- Nomikos, M. et al. 2011. Male infertility-linked point mutation disrupts the Ca2+oscillation-inducing and PIP2hydrolysis activity of sperm PLCζ. Biochemical Journal 434(2), pp. 211-217. (10.1042/BJ20101772)
- Nomikos, M. et al. 2011. Novel regulation of PLCζ activity via its XY-linker. Biochemical Journal 438, pp. 427-432. (10.1042/BJ20110953)
- Phillips, S. V. et al. 2011. Divergent effect of mammalian PLC-zeta in generating Ca2+ oscillations in somatic cells versus eggs. Biochemical Journal 438, pp. 545-533. (10.1042/BJ20101581)
- Nomikos, M., Swann, K. and Lai, F. A. 2011. Starting a new life: Sperm PLC-zeta mobilizes the Ca2+ signal that induces egg activation and embryo development. BioEssays 34(2), pp. 126-134. (10.1002/bies.201100127)
- Nomikos, M. et al. 2011. Male infertility-linked point mutation disrupts the Ca2+ oscillation-inducing and PIP2 hydrolysis activity of sperm PLCζ [Erratum]. The Biochemical Journal 435(3), pp. 791.
- Yu, Y., Dumollard, R., Rossbach, A., Lai, F. A. and Swann, K. 2010. Redistribution of mitochondria leads to bursts of ATP production during spontaneous mouse oocyte maturation. Journal of Cellular Physiology 224(3), pp. 672-680. (10.1002/jcp.22171)
- Dumollard, R., Carroll, J., Duchen, M. R., Campbell, K. and Swann, K. 2009. Mitochondrial function and redox state in mammalian embryos. Seminars in Cell and Developmental Biology 20(3), pp. 346-353. (10.1016/j.semcdb.2008.12.013)
- Ajduk, A. M., Ciemerych, M. A., Nixon, V., Swann, K. and Maleszewski, M. 2008. Fertilization differently affects the levels of cyclin B1 and M-phase promoting factor activity in maturing and metaphase II mouse oocytes. Reproduction 136(6), pp. 741-752. (10.1530/REP-08-0271)
- Yu, Y., Halet, G., Lai, F. A. and Swann, K. 2008. Regulation of diacylglycerol production and protein kinase C stimulation during sperm- and PLCζ-mediated mouse egg activation. Biology of the Cell 100(11), pp. 633-643. (10.1042/BC20080033)
- Dumollard, R., Campbell, K., Halet, G., Carroll, J. and Swann, K. 2008. Regulation of cytosolic and mitochondrial ATP levels in mouse eggs and zygotes. Developmental Biology 316(2), pp. 431-440. (10.1016/j.ydbio.2008.02.004)
- Yu, Y., Saunders, C. M., Lai, F. A. and Swann, K. 2008. Preimplantation development of mouse oocytes activated by different levels of human phospholipase C zeta. Human Reproduction 23(2), pp. 365-373. (10.1093/humrep/dem350)
- Campbell, K. and Swann, K. 2006. Ca2+ oscillations stimulate an ATP increase during fertilization of mouse eggs. Developmental Biology 298(1), pp. 225-233. (10.1016/j.ydbio.2006.06.032)
- Nomikos, M. et al. 2005. Role of phospholipase C-zeta domains in Ca2+-dependent phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate hydrolysis and cytoplasmic Ca2+ oscillations. Journal of biological chemistry 280(35), pp. 31011-31018. (10.1074/jbc.M500629200)
- Rogers, N. T., Hobson, E., Pickering, S., Lai, F. A., Braude, P. and Swann, K. 2004. Phospholipase Cζ causes Ca2+ oscillations and parthenogenetic activation of human oocytes. Reproduction 128(6), pp. 697-702. (10.1530/rep.1.00484)
- Larman, M. G., Saunders, C. M., Carroll, J., Lai, F. A. and Swann, K. 2004. Cell cycle-dependent Ca2+ oscillations in mouse embryos are regulated by nuclear targeting of PLCzeta. Journal of cell science 117(12), pp. 2513-2521. (10.1242/jcs.01109)
- Saunders, C. M. et al. 2002. PLC zeta: a sperm-specific trigger of Ca(2+) oscillations in eggs and embryo development. Development 129(15), pp. 3533-3544.
Book sections
- Nomikos, M., Swann, K. and Lai, F. A. 2017. Fundamental role for sperm phospholipase C ζ in mammalian fertilization. In: De Jonge, C. J. and Barratt, C. L. R. eds. The Sperm Cell. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, pp. 177-192., (10.1017/9781316411124.014)
- Swann, K. 2013. Measuring Ca2+ Oscillations in Mammalian Eggs. In: Homer, H. A. ed. Mammalian Oocyte Regulation., Vol. 957. Methods in Molecular Biology Humana Press, pp. 231-248., (10.1007/978-1-62703-191-2_16)
Conferences
- Pope, I. et al. 2021. Background-free 3D four-wave mixing microscopy of single gold nanoparticles inside biological systems. Presented at: European Conference on Biomedical Optics 2021, Munich, Germany, 20-24 June 2021European Conferences on Biomedical Optics 2021 (ECBO). OSA Technical Digest Optical Society of America pp. EM3B.6.
- Borri, P., Bradley, J., Pope, I., Langbein, W. and Swann, K. 2019. Imaging lipids in living mammalian oocytes and early embryos by coherent Raman scattering microscopy. Presented at: SPIE BIOS, San Francisco, CA, USA, 2-7 February 2019Proceedings Volume 10890, Label-free Biomedical Imaging and Sensing (LBIS) 2019, Vol. 108900. Society of Photo-Optical Instrumentation Engineers (SPIE) pp. 3., (10.1117/12.2506248)
- Pope, I. et al. 2018. Coherent Raman Scattering microscopy: technology developments and biological applications. Presented at: 20th International Conference on Transparent Optical Networks (ICTON), Bucharest, Romania, 1-5 Jul 201820th International Conference on Transparent Optical Networks (ICTON). IEEE, (10.1109/ICTON.2018.8473706)
- Storey, A., Elgmati, K., Wang, Y., Knaggs, P. and Swann, K. 2021. The role of ATP in the differential ability of Sr2+ to trigger Ca2+ oscillations in mouse and human eggs. Molecular Human Reproduction 27(1), article number: gaaa086. (10.1093/molehr/gaaa086)
- Sanders, J., Ashley, B., Moon, A., Woolley, T. and Swann, K. 2018. PLCz induced Ca2+ oscillations in mouse eggs involve a positive feedback cycle of Ca2+ induced InsP3 formation from cytoplasmic PIP2. Frontiers in Cell and Developmental Biology 6, article number: 36. (10.3389/fcell.2018.00036)
Ymchwil
Thema bwysig yn fy ymchwil yw ateb y cwestiwn sylfaenol o sut mae'r sberm yn actifadu'r wy wrth ffrwythloni. Wrth ffrwythloni ym mhob mamal mae'r sberm yn cychwyn datblygiad trwy achosi cyfres o osgiliadau yn y crynodiad Ca 2+ cytosolig. Rydym wedi dangos o'r blaen bod y sberm yn cychwyn osgiliadau Ca2+ mewn wyau trwy gyflwyno'r sberm zeta ffosffolipase C (PLCzeta) penodol ar ôl ymasiad pilen gamete. Mae PLCzeta yn cynhyrchu cylchoedd o gynhyrchu InsP3 a rhyddhau Ca 2 +. Rydym wedi dangos bod PLCzeta yn unigryw ymhlith PLCs mamalaidd wrth achosi osgiliadau Ca2 + mewn wyau, ac yn yr ystyr ei fod yn targedu fesiglau mewngellol yn benodol sy'n cynnwys ffosffoinositidau. Mae astudiaethau diweddar mewn llygod yn awgrymu y gallai fod ffactor ychwanegol sy'n hyrwyddo osciliadau Ca2+ mewn wyau ac rydym wedi dechrau ymchwilio i natur ail ffactor sberm putative.
Ar hyn o bryd rydym yn ymchwilio i sut yn union mae PLCzeta yn achosi rhyddhau Ca 2+ a pha ffactorau yn yr effaith wy sensitifrwydd i PLCzeta. Rydym yn astudio actifadu wyau mewn wyau llygoden ac yn cydweithio â Sefydliad Ffrwythlondeb Cymru i astudio osgiliadau Ca2+ mewn wyau dynol. Rwy'n cydweithio â Thomas Woolley a Katerina Kaouri yn yr Ysgol Mathemateg ym Mhrifysgol Caerdydd i fodelu mecanweithiau osgiliadau Ca2+. Rwyf hefyd yn cydweithio â Paola Borri a Wolfgang Langbein (Ffiseg, Prifysgol Caerdydd) ac yn defnyddio delweddu CARS o wyau ac embryonau i fonitro newidiadau yn y reticulum endoplasmig a'r diferion lipid a achosir gan amlygiad i asidau brasterog. Rydym hefyd yn ymchwilio i natur symudiadau cytoplasmig mewn wyau ac embryonau cynnar.
Mae gen i ddiddordeb hefyd mewn rheoleiddio gweithgaredd mitochondrial mewn wyau ac embryonau cynnar. Rydym yn astudio'r ffordd y mae'r sberm yn ysgogi cynhyrchu ATP mitochondrial wrth ffrwythloni, a sut mae ATP yn dylanwadu ar ryddhau Ca2 + . Prif nodau'r prosiectau hyn yw sefydlu dulliau ar gyfer gwella actifadu wyau wrth ffrwythloni a datblygu embryo dilynol.
Aelodau presennol y Lab
Cindy Ikie (myfyriwr PhD)
Elnur Aliyev (myfyriwr PhD)
Zizhen Huang (myfyriwr PhD)
Maryam Al Shaikh (myfyriwr PhD)
Cydweithredwyr
Yr Athro Paola Borri - Prifysgol Caerdydd
Thomas Woolley - Prifysgol Caerdydd
Dr Paul Knaggs - Sefydliad Ffrwythlondeb Cymru
Dr Tomasz Jurkowski – Prifysgol Caerdydd
Addysgu
Rwy'n ymwneud â chyflwyno addysgu i fyfyrwyr Blwyddyn 2, Meistr a PhD. Rwyf hefyd yn diwtor ar gyfer myfyrwyr Blwyddyn 2, Blwyddyn 3 a PTY.
Mae fy addysgu israddedig yn cynnwys cyfraniadau i fodiwlau:
BI2331: Ffisioleg (Dirprwy Arweinydd Modiwl)
BI2231: Bioleg celloedd
BI2233: Bioleg Celloedd Datblygiadol a Bôn
BI3001: Prosiect Blwyddyn Derfynol Biowyddorau
Bywgraffiad
Cwblheais fy Gradd BSc a'r PhD yn yr Adran Ffisioleg yn UCL dan oruchwyliaeth Michael Whitaker. Gweithiais fel postdoc yn Japan gyda Shun-ichi Miyazaki yn astudio osgiliadau Ca2+ mewn ffrwythloni mewn wyau a dychwelais i Lundain i weithio gyda David Whittingham yn Ysgol Feddygol Ysbyty St George. Yn 1994 cefais fy mhenodi'n ddarlithydd yn yr Adran Anatomeg a Bioleg Ddatblygiadol yn UCL. Yna yn 2004 cefais fy mhenodi'n Gadeirydd Bioleg Celloedd Atgenhedlol yn yr Ysgol Meddygaeth ym Mhrifysgol Caerdydd. Yn 2016 symudais i Ysgol y Biowyddorau. Mae gen i Drwydded Ymchwil HFEA i astudio actifadu wyau dynol ac rwy'n Aelod Bwrdd Golygyddol o'r cyfnodolyn 'Atproduction'. Rwyf wedi cyflwyno fy ymchwil mewn llawer o gyfarfodydd rhyngwladol gan gynnwys sgyrsiau gwahoddedig mewn pum Cynhadledd Ymchwil Gordon.
Yn y 1990au disgrifiais fodolaeth protein sberm hydawdd gyntaf a allai sbarduno osgiliadau Ca2 + mewn wyau mamaliaid. Arloesais y theori bod y sberm yn actifadu'r wy trwy gyflwyno protein sberm hydawdd ar ôl ymasiad gamete. Mae'r mecanwaith hwn o actifadu wyau bellach yn cael ei gydnabod yn eang fel y ffordd y mae'r sberm yn achosi actifadu wyau ac yn cychwyn datblygiad. Dangosodd y gwaith yn fy labordy gyntaf mai'r prif ffactor sberm mamalaidd yw ffosffolipase C (PLC). Yna, mewn cydweithrediad â Tony Lai ym Mhrifysgol Caerdydd, fe wnes i helpu i ddangos bod y ffactor yn PLCzeta. Rwy'n parhau i weithio ar actifadu wyau ac agweddau ar metaboledd mitochondrial mewn wyau mamaliaid.
Meysydd goruchwyliaeth
Rwyf ar gael ar gyfer goruchwylio prosiectau Meistr a PhD ym meysydd cyffredinol y canlynol:
1. Ca2 + osgiliadau ac actifadu wyau wrth ffrwythloni.
2. Rôl mitocondria mewn ffrwythloni a datblygiad cynnar.
Goruchwyliaeth gyfredol
Cindy Ikie

Zizhen Huang

Maryam Eissa H Al Shaikh
Contact Details
+44 29208 79009
Adeilad Syr Martin Evans, Rhodfa'r Amgueddfa, Caerdydd, CF10 3AX