Phosphorylation of nonhistone chromatin proteins during sea urchin development

The phosphorylation of nonhistone chromatin proteins during development was studied in the sea urchin, $\text{Strongylocentrotus purpuratus}$. The rate of phosphorylation was found to be maximal during gastrula, slightly lower during prism and almost 70% lower in pluteus stage embryos. Analysis of the phosphorylated nonhistone chromatin proteins by SDS-acrylamide gel electrophoresis showed significant variations in the labeling pattern during different stages of development. A specific protein which is actively phosphorylated during gastrula and prism stages is nearly absent from the pluteus stage.