Sulfhydryl groups and morpogenesis. I. The effects of Beta-mercaptoethanol, alpha-lipoic acid, adenosine triphosphoric acid and oxaloacetate on the embryonic development of batrachians.

1. 1. The effects of mercaptoethanol, lipoic acid, ATP and oxaloacetate, alone or in combination, have been studied in eggs of 4 different species of amphibians. 2. 2. The effects of mercaptoethanol ( M 100) and lipoic acid (20-30 μg/ml) are remarkably similar: cleavage is little affected, but gastrulation and neural plate closure are strongly inhibited. At lower concentrations, outgrowth of the tail is strongly reduced. 3. 3. Mercaptoethanol and lipoic acid, if mixed together, have additive effects. 4. 4. ATP, which speeds up neural plate closure, is antagonistic to both mercaptoethanol and lipoic acid so far as neurulation is concerned. It has no effect on the outgrowth of the tail. 5. 5. Oxaloacetate, like other tricarboxylic cycle intermediates, has unfavorable effects on neural tube closure. It often improves the elongation of the tail in lipoic acid-treated embryos. 6. 6. The meaning of these results is discussed. © 1963.Journal ArticleSCOPUS: ar.j