Oocyte and zygote ketoaldehyde utilisation.

Mouse oocytes and zygotes, when solubilised demonstrated that a range of ketoaldehydes could be utilised as substrates. Of the five ketoaldehydes investigated the overall substrate utilisation was hydroxypyruvate > glyoxylate > 2-ketobutyrate > pyruvate > glycolate. The utilisation of these ketoaldehydes during early development by LD-1 may provide a source of new metabolic substrates in addition to the potential control of aldehyde toxicity. It is proposed therefore that the LD-1 isoenzyme is responsible for ketoaldehyde utilisation prior to implantation thereby providing a source of alternative metabolic substrates for the developing embryo.