THE HYDROLYSIS OF HIGHER FATS IN 

 EGG-SECRETION. 



OTTO GLASER. 



I. 



In four recent publications ('15, '18, '21, and '22) Richards, 

 Miss Woodward, and I have dealt with the enzymic properties of 

 Arbacia egg-secretion. It was shown, first of all, that radiation 

 affects these secretions as though enzymes were present; next, 

 there was precipitated a body, lipolysin, which, like unmodified 

 exudate, was subsequently shown to accelerate the hydrolysis of 

 ethyl butyrate. Finally, in my last paper ('22), I reported the 

 synthesis of butyric ester. 



On the basis of these results, we may assume that lipolysis plays 

 a role in the initiation of development. The position is greatly 

 strengthened by the fact that normal eggs may be completely steri- 

 lized if their secretions are removed by short exposure to charcoal 

 ('21). Nevertheless the view that initiatory changes are somehow 

 linked with the activities of a lipolytic enzyme requires further 

 evidence. So far the results with ethyl butyrate are the clearest 

 of all. However, if these were due, as they might be, to a rela- 

 tively specific esterase, the fact, though interesting from other 

 points of view, would be difficult to fit into a theory of fertilization. 

 In order that lipolysis may find a place as part of the mechanism 

 of initiation, it must first be shown that the enzymes present in 

 egg-secretion actually affect the hydrolysis of higher fats. 



II. 



Preliminary tests were made with olive oil. This was carefully 

 neutralized with dilute NaOH and subsequently extracted with 

 fresh water, and later with ether ('09). The oil was then ready 

 for use. 



If egg-secretion influences the hydrolysis of olive oil, the effect, 

 under the proper conditions, might be rendered apparent through 



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