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First published online January 11, 2008

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Radical ECM changes at fertilization

When an animal egg is fertilized, the zygote rapidly transforms the extracellular matrix (ECM) of the egg into a protective structure in which embryogenesis can proceed. On p. 431, Wong and Wessel provide new insights into the biochemistry of this important transformation in the sea urchin fertilization envelope. Soon after insemination, they report, the fertilization envelope becomes impermeable to molecules larger than 40,000 daltons (medium-sized proteins; for example, serum albumin) via a peroxidase-dependent protein crosslinking mechanism. Using a new in vivo technique to label and isolate the modified ECM components, they show that four major components of the fertilization envelope are selectively crosslinked in a manner that distinguishes between protein isoforms derived from the same gene. The authors speculate that this selectivity is partly due to the local clustering of target proteins within the fertilization envelope and conclude that the free-radical crosslinking of specific proteins is essential for establishing the embryonic microenvironment that is needed for early development.

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Free-radical crosslinking of specific proteins alters the function of the egg extracellular matrix at fertilization

Julian L. Wong and Gary M. Wessel
Development 2008 135: 431-440. [Abstract] [Full Text]  

This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Related articles in Development Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Search for Related Content Social Bookmarking                         What's this?