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Journal of Cell Science, Vol 104, Issue 3 929-938, Copyright © 1993 by Company of Biologists
JOURNAL ARTICLES |
NM Mozingo, LR Hollar and DE Chandler
Department of Zoology, Arizona State University, Tempe 85287-1501.
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.
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