Bromination of fluoresceins by the dogfish, Squalus acanthias.

Abstract

THE natural occurrence of bromo-compounds in the coral fan Gorgonia verrucosa and in certain species of shellfish, especially Murex brandaris and M. tranculus, is well known1,2. Bromination of phenol red by an enzyme system isolated from the mould Caldariomyces fumago has been observed3. In vitro bromination of phenol red by uterine slices and bromination of phenol red, chloro-phenol red, metacresol purple and fluorescein after intra-uterine administration of these dyes to the pregnant spiny dogfish, Squalus acanthias, have been reported4,5. The work recorded here is an extension of the latter observations.