Primary structure and unusual carbohydrate moiety of functional unit 2-c of keyhole limpet hemocyanin (KLH)

Abstract The complete amino acid sequence of the Megathura crenulata hemocyanin functional unit KLH2-c was determined by direct sequencing and matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization mass spectrometry of the protein, and of peptides obtained by cleavage with EndoLysC proteinase, chymotrypsin and cyanogen bromide. This is the first complete primary structure of a functional unit c from a gastropod hemocyanin. KLH2-c consists of 420 amino acid residues. Circular dichroism spectra indicated approx. 31% β-sheet and 29% α-helix contents. A multiple sequence alignment with other molluscan hemocyanin functional units revealed average identities between 41 and 49%, but 55% in case of Octopus he…