Immunological and immunochemical properties of the giant African snail ( Acathina Fulica) hemocyanin

Abstract

The immunological and immunochemical properties of the giant African snail ( Acathina fulica) hemocyanin were studied and compared with those of the keyhole limpet ( Megathura crenulata) hemocyanin. No 7S antibody could be detected 5 or 10 days after injection of crude Acathina fulica hemocyanin, whilst most of the antibody obtained in sera at 25 days belonged to 7S globulin type. Primary, secondary and hyperimmune antisera to keyhole limpet hemocyanin cross-reacted with the African snail hemocyanin. However, primary, secondary and hyperimmune antisera to the African snail hemocyanin did not cross-react with keyhole limpet hemocyanin. Polyacrylamide disc gel electrophoretic studies revealed that keyhole limpet hemocyanin contained at least 10 different moieties, all of which were antigenic, while the African snail hemocyanin contained about 4 moieties, two of which were strongly antigenic. Examination of the immunochemical behaviour of the African snail hemocyanin under various solvent conditions, showed that it existed in polymeric form in its native state and at pH 7.5, while at pH 8.5 it existed in monomeric form.