Fig. 3.

Fertilization induces a dynamic suite of protective and reparative events to ensure successful egg–embryo transition. These include: a post-translational modifications (PTMs) of pre-synthesized maternally derived repair enzymes that provide the fundamental machinery necessary for mitigating DNA and/or cellular damage in the early embryo; b significant alterations in glutathione (GSH) and glutathione peroxidase activity, thus truncating the effects of post-ovulatory oocyte aging and defending the embryo against the accumulation of oxidative DNA damage; and c a complex assortment of transmembrane transporter molecules implicated in facilitating the removal of genotoxic agents from the cytosol (Adapted from [2, 10, 126, 127])