title: Macromolecular components of the vitelline membrane of hen's egg. I. Membrane structure and its deterioration with age.
abstract: The vitelline membrane of hen's egg has been successfully solubilized in sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS), guanidine hydrochloride and urea solutions, and its macromolecular components examined. SDS-gel electrophoresis of the membrane solution revealed the presence of three major components designated I, II, and III, all containing carbohydrate and protein. The approximate molecular weights of components I and II were 32,000 and 260,000, respectively, and the sedimentation coefficients were 2.2S and 4.3S. Component III was in an aggregated form which disintegrated into smaller components upon reduction with 2-mercaptoethanol. It was found that component II (4.3S component) deteriorated during storage of the egg with the concomitant formation of degraded components. The loss of this component was accompanied by a gradual decrease of the neutral sugar content of the vitelline membrane. On the basis of these data, the membrane structure and its deterioration during storage are discussed.
mesh_terms: D000375:Aging; D000818:Animals; D002241:Carbohydrates / Q000032:analysis*; D002645:Chickens; D004355:Drug Stability; D004527:Egg Proteins / Q000032:analysis*; D004531:Eggs; D004591:Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel; D005260:Female; D008970:Molecular Weight; D014817:Vitelline Membrane / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D002241:Carbohydrates; D004527:Egg Proteins