The cellular events that take place during reconstruction of larval forms from dissociated embryonic cells of the starfish are investigated by thick and thin sections. Dissociated cells reaggregate, form an external epithelium (ectoderm), internal epithelial vesicles (endoderm), the blastocoel and the mesenchyme. The internal vesicles continue to fuse until there is only one large one suspended...

We examined the effects of polysaccharides extracted from Asterina pectinifera on the activities of quinone reductase (QR), glutathione S-transferase (GST), ornithine decarboxylase (ODC), cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 and glutathione (GSH) levels in HT-29 human colon adenocarcinoma cells. We found that the polysaccharides extract induced QR activity in a dose-dependent manner over a concentration rang...

Previous studies (Nomura et al. (1991) Dev. Biol. 143, 289-296 (1993) Dev. Biol. 159, 288-297) determined the time of DNA replication period (S phase) in starfish eggs fertilized either during or after oocyte maturation. Here proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) localized within nuclei of starfish eggs was detected with an anti-PCNA human antiserum. Using a confocal laser scanning microsco...

1-Methyladenine (1MeAde) is the naturally occurring maturation-inducing hormone of starfish oocytes. We have prepared a biologically active [3H]1MeAde of high purity and relatively high specific radioactivity. This ligand binds to cortices isolated from full-grown prophase-arrested oocytes of the starfish Asterina pectinifera. The binding of [3H]1MeAde to cortices was rapid and reached equilibr...

Gonad-stimulating substance (GSS) of starfish is the only known invertebrate peptide hormone responsible for final gamete maturation, rendering it functionally analogous to the vertebrate luteinizing hormone (LH). Here, we purified GSS of starfish, Asterina pectinifera, from radial nerves and determined its amino acid sequence. The purified GSS was a heterodimer composed of 2 different peptides...