Abstract
Hydatid scolex hooks, free from other scolex components, have been prepared in milligram quantities. Analysis of hydrolyzates by paper chromatography revealed the presence of nearly all the protein amino acids but did not show the presence of glucosamine or sugars. The hooks contained 15.6% of nitrogen and 5.6% of sulfur. The amino acid composition of hydrolyzates, determined by ion-exchange chromatography, corresponds to that of a keratin. The hooks were resistant to digestion by papain, ficin, pepsin, and trypsin. It is concluded that the scolex hooks of Echinococcus granulosus are composed of a keratin-type of protein which differs in some respects from typical vertebrate keratins.
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