Catabolism of hemocyanin in the American lobster, Homarus americanus

Abstract

1. 1. Cross-reactivity studies by double immunodiffusion suggest no immunological similarity between Homarus americanus hemocyanin and Panulirus argus hemocyanin. 2. 2. Slow hemolymph clearance rates ( t 1 2 of 15–30 days) for 125I- Homarus americanus and Panulirus argus hemocyanins were determined after injection in both species, suggesting similar structure of the two hemocyanins relative to clearance recognition sites. 3. 3. No single tissue emerged as the site of clearance and degradation of endogenous 125I-labelled hemocyanin in Homarus americanus, possibly due to its slow clearance rate. 4. 4. 125I- Limulus polyphemus hemocyanin was rapidly cleared from the hemolymph of Homarus americanus ( t 1 2 = 45 min ) with the epidermis indicated as the initial site of uptake and degradation.