Early dolichyl sugar synthesis during differentiation of non-growing brine-shrimp (Artemia salina) embryos.

Incubation of cell-free extracts of Artemia salina with sugar nucleotides resulted in the formation of dolichyl derivatives. These enzymic activities were detected early in the development of the encysted Artemia embryos. Dolichyl sugars seemed to act as intermediates in the glycosylation of proteins, which may be involved in the initiation of cellular differentiation.