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A new manuscript published in the Journal of Biological Chemistry from the labs of Professors Thomas O'Halloran and Teresa Woodruff, first author Yu-Ying Chen, and other researchers at Michigan State University, Northwestern University, and Argonne National Laboratories describes how zinc fluctuations regulate key steps in late oocyte and preimplantation embryo development. To measure these zinc fluctuations during early follicle development, the researchers applied single cell X-ray fluorescence microscopy, radioactive zinc, and labile zinc probes in individual mouse oocytes and associated somatic cells within early follicles. Overall, their results demonstrate that distinct cell type–specific zinc regulations are required for follicle growth and indicate that physiological fluctuation in the localization and availability of this inorganic cofactor has fundamental functions in early gamete development. You can find the full article here