Abstract
1. 1. Oxygen binding characteristics of the haemocyanin (Hc) in frozen haemolymph samples from the deep-sea caridean Notostomus gibbosus A. Milne Edwards (Opiophoridae) were examined at 5C in the presence of CO 2, l-lactate, ammonia (NH 4 +) and trimethylamine (Me 3NH +). 2. 2. The haemolymph contains high concentrations of NH 4 +(217 mmol/1) and Me 3NH + (113 mmol/l), and has a pH of 7.58 at 5C (Sanders and Childress, J. exp. Biol. 138, 333–343, 1988). 3. 3. Haemocyanin-O 2 affinity was decreased by the presence of CO 2. 4. 4. l-Lactate caused a small but significant increase in Hc-O 2 affinity. 5. 5. The presence of NH 4 +or Me 3NH +, in concentrations found normally in the haemolymph, reduced the Hc-O 2 affinity and suppressed the specific effect of CO 2. 6. 6. Although the presence of these nitrogenous compounds in haemolymph reduces the O 2 affinity of N. gibbosus Hc, the molecule is of importance to the animal in the O 2 depleted deep-sea environment.
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