Abstract
The jelly coat surrounding the egg of Xenopus laevis is dependent on the integrity of disulfide bonds for maintenance of its structure. This was proved by the jelly coat dissolving action of various disulfide bond-breaking reagents, by the rate of jelly coat solubilization as a function of pH, and by the appearance of free sulfhydryl groups due to ultraviolet photolysis of the jelly coat. From the presence of disulfide bonds in the jelly coat, it is postulated that sulfhydryl-disulfide bonds may be involved in the process of fertilization. Sperm penetration through egg integuments (jelly coat and vitelline membrane) may involve a lysin which utilizes a disulfide bond as a substrate. In addition, gamete fusion is visualized as occurring by a sulfhydryl-disulfide bond interchange. In view of the occurrence of disulfide bonds in egg integuments of many different organisms, this molecular hypothesis for fertilization may be generally applicable. The observation of jelly coat solubilization by mercaptans now makes possible a study of the macro-molecular composition of jelly coats and their role in fertilization.
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