Chapter title |
Functions of Vitellogenin in Eggs
|
---|---|
Chapter number | 17 |
Book title |
Oocytes
|
Published in |
Results and problems in cell differentiation, January 2017
|
DOI | 10.1007/978-3-319-60855-6_17 |
Pubmed ID | |
Book ISBNs |
978-3-31-960854-9, 978-3-31-960855-6
|
Authors |
Hongyan Li, Shicui Zhang |
Abstract |
Our understanding of the functions of vitellogenin (Vtg) in reproduction has undergone an evolutionary transformation over the past decade. Primarily, Vtg was regarded as a female-specific reproductive protein, which is cleaved into yolk proteins including phosvitin (Pv) and lipovitellin (Lv), stored in eggs, providing the nutrients for early embryos. Recently, Vtg has been shown to be an immunocomponent factor capable of protecting the host against the attack by microbes including bacteria and viruses. Moreover, Pv and Lv that both are proteolytically cleaved products of maternal Vtg, as well as Pv-derived small peptides, all display an antibacterial role in developing embryos. In addition, both Vtg and yolk protein Pv possess antioxidant activity capable of protecting cells from damage by free radicals. Collectively, these data indicate that Vtg, in addition to being involved in yolk protein formation, also plays non-nutritional roles via functioning as immune-relevant molecules and antioxidant reagents. |
Mendeley readers
Geographical breakdown
Country | Count | As % |
---|---|---|
Unknown | 51 | 100% |
Demographic breakdown
Readers by professional status | Count | As % |
---|---|---|
Student > Ph. D. Student | 8 | 16% |
Student > Master | 7 | 14% |
Student > Bachelor | 5 | 10% |
Student > Doctoral Student | 4 | 8% |
Student > Postgraduate | 2 | 4% |
Other | 5 | 10% |
Unknown | 20 | 39% |
Readers by discipline | Count | As % |
---|---|---|
Agricultural and Biological Sciences | 12 | 24% |
Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology | 6 | 12% |
Veterinary Science and Veterinary Medicine | 2 | 4% |
Medicine and Dentistry | 2 | 4% |
Environmental Science | 1 | 2% |
Other | 5 | 10% |
Unknown | 23 | 45% |