Abstract
The sea urchin fertilization envelope is an extracellular matrix assembled at fertilization to prevent polyspermy and protect the embryo during early development. During hatching, the embryo secretes a proteolytic hatching enzyme which dissolves the fertilization envelope, allowing a ciliated blastula to swim free. In this study we examined ultrastructural changes in the fertilization envelope during degradation of this matrix by hatching enzyme. The completed fertilization envelope is a trilaminar structure consisting of a dense, central layer of filaments sandwiched between surface coats of paracrystalline material. Hatching enzyme disassembles this matrix by degrading the paracrystalline layers and removing macromolecules from the central layer leaving behind a thin matrix of loosely woven fibers.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 929-938 |
Number of pages | 10 |
Journal | Journal of Cell Science |
Volume | 104 |
Issue number | 3 |
State | Published - 1993 |
Keywords
- Fertilization envelope
- Freeze-fracture
- Hatching
- Lytechinus pictus
- Sea urchin eggs
- Strongylocentrotus purpuratus
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Cell Biology