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Fertilization envelope assembly in sea urchin eggs inseminated in chloride‐deficient sea water: II. Biochemical effects
Author(s) -
Green Jeffrey D.,
Glas Patricia S.,
Cheng SouDe,
Lynn John W.
Publication year - 1990
Publication title -
molecular reproduction and development
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.745
H-Index - 105
eISSN - 1098-2795
pISSN - 1040-452X
DOI - 10.1002/mrd.1080250211
Subject(s) - sea urchin , bromide , strongylocentrotus purpuratus , biology , chloride , cortical granule , human fertilization , perivitelline space , seawater , biochemistry , biophysics , zoology , anatomy , microbiology and biotechnology , ecology , embryo , chemistry , oocyte , inorganic chemistry , zona pellucida , organic chemistry
Abstract Eggs of the sea urchin Strongylocentrotus purpuratus were fertilized in normal and in several chloride‐deficient sea waters ([CI − ]: normal > isethionate > methyl sulfonate > bromide). The fertilization envelopes (FE) were thinner and failed to harden, and the characteristic I‐T transition did not occur. The permeability of the experimental FEs, as determined by release of protein from the perivitelline space, increased in the order of decreasing [CI − ]. Release of the enzymes β‐1, 3‐glucanase and cortical granule protease were not significantly altered. On the other hand, release of ovoperoxidase was increased three to four times in bromide sea water. Furthermore, a dose‐response was observed in varying concentrations of bromide‐normal sea water. With decreasing chloride (increasing bromide) concentration, more ovoperoxidase activity was observed. Cytochemical localization of ovoperoxidase activity with diaminobenzidine revealed almost a total lack of staining of FEs from bromide‐substituted sea water. The results suggest that in chloride‐deficient sea waters protein incorporation into the nascent FE is impaired. At least in the case of bromide, the incorporation of ovoperoxidase into the nascent FE was also inhibited.