Electrophoretic movement of fertilized sea-urchin eggs.

The eccentric shift of the sea-urchin egg within the fertilization membrane under an electric field was analysed by measuring the electrophoretic mobility of the isolated fertilization membrane and that of the egg deprived of the fertilization membrane. In addition, the migration speed of the egg proper was measured within the fertilization membrane under the conditions that: either (1) the movement of the whole egg was arrested, or (2) protamine sulphate was adsorbed on the fertilization membrane to reduce its mobility. The results led to conclusions that: (1) both the fertilization membrane and the egg cell with the hyaline layer are negatively charged; (2) movement of the normal fertilized eggs is due mainly to the surface charge of the fertilization membrane; and (3) the eccentric position of the egg within the fertilization membrane is due to migration of the egg proper, which is independent of the movement of the whole egg.