Structural Analogies in Annelid Erythrocruorins

Erythrocruorins from many annelid species have been studied by many authors. In spite of the great similarity of most physicochemical properties and of the electron-micrographs of these proteins, some debated experimental data divide the scientific community, e.g. the Mr of the whole molecule (ranging from 2,500 to 4,1000 kDa) and, in consequence, the Mr of the 1/12 molecules, the Mr and number of the smallest covalently bound subunits and the Mr and number of the globin-like monomers (1).

Evidence of lipofuscin accumulation in the deep-water red shrimp Aristaeomorpha foliacea (Risso, 1827)

Lipofuscin, a non-degradable, degenerative fluorescent pigment which accumulates in post-mitotic cells, represents a promising method for ageing marine crustaceans. The presence and accumulation of lipofuscin has been studied in the deep-water red shrimp Aristaeomorpha foliacea (Risso, 1827) to assess its use as a tool for ageing larger (i.e., older) specimens and thus improve knowledge of the growth and longevity of this species. Specimens, gathered during experimental trawl surveys carried out in the Strait of Sicily (Mediterranean Sea), were stored directly on-board in 10% buffered formaldehyde solution; their brain was thereafter removed, prepared with various current histological techn…

Role of SH-Groups and S-S Bridges in the Main Subunit (1/12 Molecule) of Spirographis Spallanzanii Chlorocruorin

In all species of annelids described, the extracellular hemoglobins show (by electron microscopy) the same quaternary structure constituted by twelve identical subunits. The fine structure of the 1/12 subunit is not well resolved and several models have been proposed for it (2).

EVIDENCE OF LIPOFUSCIN ACCUMULATION IN THE DEEP-WATER RED SHRIMP ARISTAEOMORPHA FOLIACEA