Vitellin

Last updated

Vitellin is a protein found in the egg yolk. It is a phosphoprotein. [1] Vitellin is a generic name for major of many yolk proteins. [2]

Contents

Vitellin has been known since the 1900s. [3] The periodic acid-Schiff method and Sudan black B dye was used to help determine that Vitellin is a glycolipoprotein because it stained positive when tested. This protein was found to weigh ~540 kDa, given the weight of each of its 4 major subunits. [4]

Vitellin is essential in the fertilization process, and embryonic development in egg-laying organisms.

This phosphoprotein acts as a membrane, 1-3.5μm, that encloses the egg that comprises at least five glycoproteins that resemble the zona pellucida evident in mammalian organisms. When the egg is fertilized, it buds off from the gamete surface, which results in the fertilization of the membrane in most invertebrates, amphibians, birds, and fishes. During fertilization, the acrosome of the sperm interacts with the vitelline envelope that has species-specific recognition and binding for the sperm. The vitelline membrane consists of two major layers found below the ovary and the outer layer found in the oviduct. This membrane supports the yolk and separates from the albumen, or egg white. The proteins that primarily compose the vitelline membrane are the lysozyme and ovomucin foundational for membrane growth during embryonic development. Aside from structural functions, it is also a barrier that permits the diffusion of water and nutrients, and in chickens especially, it is a barrier against microbial infection. Vitellin comprises a vast fraction of the proteins found in eggs, and due to this, they are easily characterized with biochemical methods in order to elucidate molecular, developments, and physiological regulation studies.

Vitellin was studied in honey bees and was found that it contributed to the health of the embryo in the form of immunity in the embryonic stages. This immunity came from two of the four domains of this protein structure. The honey bees, the domain of unknown function 1943 (DUF1943), and the von Willebrand factor (vWF) type D domain were linked to pathogen recognition and increased immunity in the embryonic honey bees. [5]

Allergen

Vitellin is an umbrella term for many vitellin sub proteins and some of these sub proteins are linked with egg allergies. [6]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Spermatozoon</span> Motile sperm cell

A spermatozoon is a motile sperm cell, or moving form of the haploid cell that is the male gamete. A spermatozoon joins an ovum to form a zygote.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fertilisation</span> Union of gametes of opposite sexes during the process of sexual reproduction to form a zygote

Fertilisation or fertilization, also known as generative fertilisation, syngamy and impregnation, is the fusion of gametes to give rise to a new individual organism or offspring and initiate its development. While processes such as insemination or pollination, which happen before the fusion of gametes, are also sometimes informally referred to as fertilisation, these are technically separate processes. The cycle of fertilisation and development of new individuals is called sexual reproduction. During double fertilisation in angiosperms, the haploid male gamete combines with two haploid polar nuclei to form a triploid primary endosperm nucleus by the process of vegetative fertilisation.

Development of the human body is the process of growth to maturity. The process begins with fertilization, where an egg released from the ovary of a female is penetrated by a sperm cell from a male. The resulting zygote develops through mitosis and cell differentiation, and the resulting embryo then implants in the uterus, where the embryo continues development through a fetal stage until birth. Further growth and development continues after birth, and includes both physical and psychological development that is influenced by genetic, hormonal, environmental and other factors. This continues throughout life: through childhood and adolescence into adulthood.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Egg cell</span> Female reproductive cell in most anisogamous organisms

The egg cell, or ovum, is the female reproductive cell, or gamete, in most anisogamous organisms. The term is used when the female gamete is not capable of movement (non-motile). If the male gamete (sperm) is capable of movement, the type of sexual reproduction is also classified as oogamous. A nonmotile female gamete formed in the oogonium of some algae, fungi, oomycetes, or bryophytes is an oosphere. When fertilized, the oosphere becomes the oospore.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Germ cell</span> Gamete-producing cell

A germ cell is any cell that gives rise to the gametes of an organism that reproduces sexually. In many animals, the germ cells originate in the primitive streak and migrate via the gut of an embryo to the developing gonads. There, they undergo meiosis, followed by cellular differentiation into mature gametes, either eggs or sperm. Unlike animals, plants do not have germ cells designated in early development. Instead, germ cells can arise from somatic cells in the adult, such as the floral meristem of flowering plants.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Yolk</span> Part of an egg which feeds the developing embryo

Among animals which produce eggs, the yolk is the nutrient-bearing portion of the egg whose primary function is to supply food for the development of the embryo. Some types of egg contain no yolk, for example because they are laid in situations where the food supply is sufficient or because the embryo develops in the parent's body, which supplies the food, usually through a placenta. Reproductive systems in which the mother's body supplies the embryo directly are said to be matrotrophic; those in which the embryo is supplied by yolk are said to be lecithotrophic. In many species, such as all birds, and most reptiles and insects, the yolk takes the form of a special storage organ constructed in the reproductive tract of the mother. In many other animals, especially very small species such as some fish and invertebrates, the yolk material is not in a special organ, but inside the egg cell.

An oocyte, oöcyte, or ovocyte is a female gametocyte or germ cell involved in reproduction. In other words, it is an immature ovum, or egg cell. An oocyte is produced in a female fetus in the ovary during female gametogenesis. The female germ cells produce a primordial germ cell (PGC), which then undergoes mitosis, forming oogonia. During oogenesis, the oogonia become primary oocytes. An oocyte is a form of genetic material that can be collected for cryoconservation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ascidiacea</span> Group of non-vertebrate marine filter feeders comprising sea squirts

Ascidiacea, commonly known as the ascidians or sea squirts, is a paraphyletic class in the subphylum Tunicata of sac-like marine invertebrate filter feeders. Ascidians are characterized by a tough outer "tunic" made of a polysaccharide.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Zona pellucida</span> Glycoprotein layer surrounding the plasma membrane of mammalian oocytes

The zona pellucida is a specialized extracellular matrix that surrounds the plasma membrane of mammalian oocytes. It is a vital constitutive part of the oocyte. The zona pellucida first appears in unilaminar primary oocytes. It is secreted by both the oocyte and the ovarian follicles. The zona pellucida is surrounded by the corona radiata. The corona is composed of cells that care for the egg when it is emitted from the ovary.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Animal embryonic development</span> Process by which the embryo forms and develops

In developmental biology, animal embryonic development, also known as animal embryogenesis, is the developmental stage of an animal embryo. Embryonic development starts with the fertilization of an egg cell (ovum) by a sperm cell, (spermatozoon). Once fertilized, the ovum becomes a single diploid cell known as a zygote. The zygote undergoes mitotic divisions with no significant growth and cellular differentiation, leading to development of a multicellular embryo after passing through an organizational checkpoint during mid-embryogenesis. In mammals, the term refers chiefly to the early stages of prenatal development, whereas the terms fetus and fetal development describe later stages.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Male reproductive system</span> Reproductive system of the human male

The male reproductive system consists of a number of sex organs that play a role in the process of human reproduction. These organs are located on the outside of the body, and within the pelvis.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Human fertilization</span> Union of a human egg and sperm

Human fertilization is the union of an egg and sperm, occurring primarily in the ampulla of the fallopian tube. The result of this union leads to the production of a fertilized egg called a zygote, initiating embryonic development. Scientists discovered the dynamics of human fertilization in the 19th century.

In biology, polyspermy describes the fertilization of an egg by more than one sperm. Diploid organisms normally contain two copies of each chromosome, one from each parent. The cell resulting from polyspermy, on the other hand, contains three or more copies of each chromosome—one from the egg and one each from multiple sperm. Usually, the result is an unviable zygote. This may occur because sperm are too efficient at reaching and fertilizing eggs due to the selective pressures of sperm competition. Such a situation is often deleterious to the female: in other words, the male–male competition among sperm spills over to create sexual conflict.

Vitellogenin is a precursor of egg yolk that transports protein and some lipid from the liver through the blood to the growing oocytes where it becomes part of the yolk. Normally, it is only found in the blood or hemolymph of females, and can therefore be used as a biomarker in vertebrates of exposure to environmental estrogens which stimulate elevated levels in males as well as females. "Vitellogenin" is a synonymous term for the gene and the expressed protein. The protein product is classified as a glycolipoprotein, having properties of a sugar, fat and protein. It belongs to a family of several lipid transport proteins.

The vitelline membrane or vitelline envelope is a structure surrounding the outer surface of the plasma membrane of an ovum or, in some animals, the extracellular yolk and the oolemma. It is composed mostly of protein fibers, with protein receptors needed for sperm binding which, in turn, are bound to sperm plasma membrane receptors. The species-specificity between these receptors contributes to prevention of breeding between different species. It is called zona pellucida in mammals. Between the vitelline membrane and zona pellucida is a fluid-filled perivitelline space.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fish development</span>

The development of fishes is unique in some specific aspects compared to the development of other animals.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">ZP2</span> Protein-coding gene in the species Homo sapiens

Zona pellucida sperm-binding protein 2 is a protein that in humans is encoded by the ZP2 gene.

The reproductive system of an organism, also known as the genital system, is the biological system made up of all the anatomical organs involved in sexual reproduction. Many non-living substances such as fluids, hormones, and pheromones are also important accessories to the reproductive system. Unlike most organ systems, the sexes of differentiated species often have significant differences. These differences allow for a combination of genetic material between two individuals, which allows for the possibility of greater genetic fitness of the offspring.

Oocyteactivation is a series of processes that occur in the oocyte during fertilization.

Egg lysin is a protein that creates a hole in the envelope of the egg thereby allowing the sperm to pass through the envelope and fuse with the egg.

References

  1. Vitellins at the U.S. National Library of Medicine Medical Subject Headings (MeSH)
  2. KUNKEL, JOSEPH G.; JOHN H. NORDIN (1985). "Yolk Proteins. 2.2 Vitellin, the major yolk protein" (PDF). Retrieved 5 November 2016.
  3. CALVERY, HERBERT O.; ABRAHAM WHITE (31 October 1931). "VITELLIN OF HEN'S EGG" (PDF). Journal of Biological Chemistry. 94 (3): 635. doi: 10.1016/S0021-9258(18)76387-4 . Retrieved 5 November 2016.
  4. QUINITIO, EMILIA T.; HARA, AKIHIKO; YAMAUCHI, KOHEI; FUJI, AKIRA (1 June 1990). "Isolation and characterization of vitellin from the ovary of Penaeus monodon". Invertebrate Reproduction & Development. 17 (3): 221–227. doi:10.1080/07924259.1990.9672114. ISSN   0792-4259.
  5. Leipart, Vilde; Montserrat‐Canals, Mateu; Cunha, Eva S.; Luecke, Hartmut; Herrero‐Galán, Elías; Halskau, Øyvind; Amdam, Gro V. (January 2022). "Structure prediction of honey bee vitellogenin: a multi‐domain protein important for insect immunity". FEBS Open Bio. 12 (1): 51–70. doi:10.1002/2211-5463.13316. ISSN   2211-5463. PMC   8727950 . PMID   34665931.
  6. Puglisi, Gregory; Frieri, Marianne (1 November 2007). "Update on hidden food allergens and food labeling" . Allergy and Asthma Proceedings. 28 (6): 634–639. doi:10.2500/aap.2007.6.3066. ISSN   1088-5412. PMID   18201426.

Hagedorn, H. H., and J. G. Kunkel. "Vitellogenin and vitellin in insects." Annual review of entomology 24.1 (1979): 475-505. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev.en.24.010179.002355

Zhu, Jiang, Leslie S. Indrasith, and Okitsugu Yamashita. "Characterization of vitellin, egg-specific protein and 30 kDa protein from Bombyx eggs, and their fates during oogenesis and embryogenesis." Biochimica et Biophysica Acta (BBA) - General Subjects 882.3 (1986): 427-436. https://doi.org/10.1016/0304-4165(86)90267-9