Live sea cucumbers (Stichopus japonicus) were stored in a solution containing oxalic acid and tea polyphenols as natural metal ion chelators. The inhibitory effects of these chelators on the autolysis phenomenon and the underlying mechanism of action were investigated for the first time by using scanning electron microscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, low-field nuclear magnetic resonance and confocal laser scanning microscopy. External stimuli cause autolysis through the release of calcium ions (Ca²⁺) from cells into the extracellular connective tissue, initiating activity of the matrix metalloprotease (MMP) in the sea cucumber body wall (SCBW). MMP subsequently degrades the microfibrillar networks, that support the interconnecting collagen fibres and the interfibrillar proteoglycan bridges linking the collagen fibrils, to release the water restricted within the interspaces between collagen fibres and collagen fibrils, ultimately causing mucoid degeneration of SCBW. The natural metal ion chelators significantly inhibited the activation of MMP by chelating Ca²⁺, consequently effectively preventing the autolysis of SCBW.

将活海参（Stichopus japonicus）存储在含有草酸和茶多酚作为天然金属离子螯合剂的溶液中。通过使用扫描电子显微镜，差示扫描量热法，低场核磁共振和共聚焦激光扫描显微镜，首次研究了这些螯合剂对自溶现象的抑制作用及其潜在的作用机理。外部刺激通过释放钙离子（Ca ²⁺）从细胞进入细胞外结缔组织，从而启动海参体壁（SCBW）中基质金属蛋白酶（MMP）的活性。MMP随后降解微纤维网络，从而支持相互连接的胶原纤维和连接胶原纤维的纤维间蛋白聚糖桥，从而释放出限制在胶原纤维和胶原纤维之间的空间内的水，最终导致SCBW的粘液样变性。天然金属离子螯合剂通过螯合Ca ^2+来显着抑制MMP的活化，因此有效地防止了SCBW的自溶。