HISTOCHEMICAL-STUDIES OF JELLY COAT OF MARTHASTERIAS-GLACIALIS (ECHINODERMATA, ASTEROIDEA) OOCYTES

Histochemical studies revealed the presence of two major polysaccharid es in the oocyte jelly coat (JC) of Marthasterias glacialis: a fibrill ar component that contains carboxylic and sulfated groups and a loose component composed of neutral or weakly acidic polysaccharides. When i solated JC was submitted to cellulose acetate electrophoresis (CAE) an d then stained with alcian blue, three bands appeared, of which one re mained at the origin and two migrated toward the anode. Glycosaminogly can-like molecules isolated from JC were separated by CAE into three m ain moving bands, two that present an R(f) similar to that of the inte rmediary moving band of total JC and one that has an R(f) similar to t hat of the faster moving band of total JC. These bands also have criti cal electrolyte points similar to those of total JC. Chondroitinase AB C mainly attacked the faster moving band, whereas protease and hyaluro nidase seemed to digest all bands. These results and the R(f)s of isol ated and standard glycosaminoglycans after mono- and bidimensional CAE suggest that the glycosaminoglycan-like molecules bear some resemblan ce to chondroitan sulfate, heparan sulfate, and hyaluronic acid.