PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Shapiro, BM
TI  - The control of oxidant stress at fertilization
AID  - 10.1126/science.1850548
DP  - 1991 Apr 26
TA  - Science
PG  - 533--536
VI  - 252
IP  - 5005
4099  - http://science.sciencemag.org/content/252/5005/533.short
4100  - http://science.sciencemag.org/content/252/5005/533.full
SO  - Science1991 Apr 26; 252
AB  - Metazoan eggs alter their coats after fertilization to protect the early embryo. In sea urchins, this modification consists of a rapid, coordinated set of noncovalent macromolecular assembly steps that are stabilized by protein cross-linking. The sea urchin egg uses an oxidative cross-linking reaction that requires hydrogen peroxide and a secreted peroxidase and thus faces the challenge of oxidant stress at the beginning of its development. Protection from the deleterious effects of this oxidative mechanism is afforded by regulation of the production and utilization of oxidizing species. This regulation requires a specific protein kinase C-activated oxidase and ovothiol, an intracellular antioxidant.