Biomaterial Database

Fertilization stimulates lipid peroxidation in the sea urchin egg. 1985

G Perry, and D Epel

Arachidonic acid is rapidly taken-up by Strongylocentrotus purpuratus eggs and eventually incorporated into cellular lipids. During the first few minutes following fertilization the arachidonic acid that has not been incorporated into other lipid forms is oxidized to a hydroxy-fatty acid. In vivo, the time of arachidonic acid conversion coincides with the transient period of increased intracellular free calcium after fertilization. In vitro, this lipid peroxidizing activity has been shown to be initiated by micromolar calcium. Taken together with the presence of Ca2+-stimulated lipase, these results suggest that calcium regulates both the release of polyunsaturated fatty acids from cellular lipids and their subsequent oxidation. The physiological function of lipid hydroxides or hydroperoxides in sea urchin fertilization is unknown. A possibility is that they may be important in regulating the many membrane permeability changes occurring within minutes after fertilization.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D008054	Lipid Peroxides	Peroxides produced in the presence of a free radical by the oxidation of unsaturated fatty acids in the cell in the presence of molecular oxygen. The formation of lipid peroxides results in the destruction of the original lipid leading to the loss of integrity of the membranes. They therefore cause a variety of toxic effects in vivo and their formation is considered a pathological process in biological systems. Their formation can be inhibited by antioxidants, such as vitamin E, structural separation or low oxygen tension.	Fatty Acid Hydroperoxide,Lipid Peroxide,Lipoperoxide,Fatty Acid Hydroperoxides,Lipid Hydroperoxide,Lipoperoxides,Acid Hydroperoxide, Fatty,Acid Hydroperoxides, Fatty,Hydroperoxide, Fatty Acid,Hydroperoxide, Lipid,Hydroperoxides, Fatty Acid,Peroxide, Lipid,Peroxides, Lipid
D008084	Lipoxygenase	An enzyme of the oxidoreductase class primarily found in PLANTS. It catalyzes reactions between linoleate and other fatty acids and oxygen to form hydroperoxy-fatty acid derivatives.	Lipoxidase,Linoleate-Oxygen Oxidoreductase,Lipoxygenase-1,Lipoxygenase-2,Linoleate Oxygen Oxidoreductase,Lipoxygenase 1,Lipoxygenase 2,Oxidoreductase, Linoleate-Oxygen
D010063	Ovum	A mature haploid female germ cell extruded from the OVARY at OVULATION.	Egg,Egg, Unfertilized,Ova,Eggs, Unfertilized,Unfertilized Egg,Unfertilized Eggs
D002118	Calcium	A basic element found in nearly all tissues. It is a member of the alkaline earth family of metals with the atomic symbol Ca, atomic number 20, and atomic weight 40. Calcium is the most abundant mineral in the body and combines with phosphorus to form calcium phosphate in the bones and teeth. It is essential for the normal functioning of nerves and muscles and plays a role in blood coagulation (as factor IV) and in many enzymatic processes.	Coagulation Factor IV,Factor IV,Blood Coagulation Factor IV,Calcium-40,Calcium 40,Factor IV, Coagulation
D005260	Female		Females
D005306	Fertilization	The fusion of a spermatozoon (SPERMATOZOA) with an OVUM thus resulting in the formation of a ZYGOTE.	Conception,Fertilization, Delayed,Fertilization, Polyspermic,Conceptions,Delayed Fertilization,Delayed Fertilizations,Fertilizations,Fertilizations, Delayed,Fertilizations, Polyspermic,Polyspermic Fertilization,Polyspermic Fertilizations
D006863	Hydrogen-Ion Concentration	The normality of a solution with respect to HYDROGEN ions; H+. It is related to acidity measurements in most cases by pH	pH,Concentration, Hydrogen-Ion,Concentrations, Hydrogen-Ion,Hydrogen Ion Concentration,Hydrogen-Ion Concentrations
D006893	Hydroxyeicosatetraenoic Acids	Eicosatetraenoic acids substituted in any position by one or more hydroxy groups. They are important intermediates in a series of biosynthetic processes leading from arachidonic acid to a number of biologically active compounds such as prostaglandins, thromboxanes, and leukotrienes.	HETE,Acids, Hydroxyeicosatetraenoic
D000818	Animals	Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA.	Animal,Metazoa,Animalia
D001095	Arachidonic Acids		Eicosatetraenoic Acids,Acids, Arachidonic,Acids, Eicosatetraenoic