Mechanism of Membrane Formation 215 



Robertson states that this order of inhibiting efficiency of 

 various proteins is the reverse of their ability to pass through 

 a porcelain filter. 



In striking confirmation of the view expressed by Loeb that the 

 formation of the membrane in fertilized eggs is due to the osmotic 

 imbibition of water by the egg, and that the inhibiting effect of colloids 

 upon their formation is due to their inabiUty to pass through the mem- 

 brane, we find that the order of effectiveness of the various proteins 

 in inhibiting membrane formation is the reverse order of their ability 

 to pass through a porcelain filter. 



8. Membrane formation by acids or saponin or benzol is 

 not dependent upon the presence of free oxygen. As I showed 

 seven years ago, an egg is not deterred by KCN from forming 

 a membrane under the influence of acid. I left unfertihzed 

 sea-urchin eggs at 15° C. for several hours (up to 24 hours) in a 

 mixture of 50 c.c. of sea-water+2 c.c. 1/20 per cent KCN and 

 added sperm thereto. The eggs at once formed perfect fertilir 

 zation membranes in the cyanide sea-water.^ But the develop- 

 ment of the eggs was completely inhibited by such a solution. 

 The development of the eggs requires free oxygen, but mem- 

 brane formation by fatty acid, on the other hand, does not. 



In the case of artificial parthenogenesis by bases, however, 

 oxidation is required for membrane formation. It is possible 

 that in this case the process of oxidation leads to the formation 

 of a substance which causes the physical change underlying 

 membrane formation. 



9. What has the membrane formation to do with the 

 development? The writer published in 1905 the following 

 hypothesis: 



From all these facts mentioned here, I have gathered the impres- 

 sion that the membrane formation, or possibly the process which results 

 in membrane formation, is an essential feature of the process of fertiliza- 

 tion not only in the sea-urchin egg but also in at least certain starfish 



'Loeb, "Der chemische Charakter des Befruchtungsvorganges," Biochem 

 Zeilachr., I, 191, 1906. 



