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Science 24 March 1972:
Vol. 175. no. 4028, pp. 1366 - 1368
DOI: 10.1126/science.175.4028.1366
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Articles

1-Methyladenine Biosynthesis in Starfish Ovary: Action of Gonad-Stimulating Hormone in Methylation

H. Shirai 1, H. Kanatani 1, and S. Taguchi 2

1 Ocean Research Institute, University of Tokyo, Tokyo 164, Japan
2 Division of Biology, National Institute of Radiological Sciences, Chiba, Chiba-ken 280, Japan

Gonad-stimulating substance, a hormonal peptide released from the nervous system of starfishes, acts on the ovary to produce 1-methyladenine, an inducer of oocyte maturation. Addition of methionine to the incubation mixture of ovarian fragments and gonad-stimulating substance enhanced the production of 1-methyladenine, whereas ethionine inhibited it. Incubation of ovarian tissue with methionine alone failed to produce 1-methyladenine. Use of a radioactive label showed that methionine is a methyl donor in the biosynthesis of 1-methyladenine, suggesting that gonad-stimulating substance is involved in the methylation process.


THIS ARTICLE HAS BEEN CITED BY OTHER ARTICLES:
Echinoid Spawning Induced by a Radial Nerve Factor.
R. C. Cochran and F. Engelmann (1972)
Science 178, 423-424
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Science. ISSN 0036-8075 (print), 1095-9203 (online)