Glycoprotein synthesis and embryonic development.

One of the most striking morphogenetic events during embryonic development is gastrulation, a process that leads to formation of the primitive gut. Using sea urchin embryos, we have studied the synthesis and function of glycoproteins during gastrulation. These studies have revealed that at least three processes are induced prior to gastrulation: de novo synthesis of dolichol; phosphorylation of dolichol by dolichol kinase, which may catalyze the final step in the de novo pathway; and initiation of the synthesis of N-linked glycoproteins. Whether or not activation of the glycosylation process results merely because of the production of dolichyl monophosphate or because, in addition, proteins containing glycosylatable-Asn-X-Ser/Thr-sequences are first translated just prior to gastrulation, is currently being investigated.