Isolation and characterization of the major and the minor phosvitin from eight species (three genera) of salmonid fishes: Genus specific nature of the amino acid composition of the major phosvitin, and novel features of the chemical composition of the minor phosvitins

Abstract

1. 1. Three classes of phosvitin molecules were isolated from the eggs of eight species (three genera) of salmonid fishes and chemically characterized. 2. 2. Comparison of amino acid composition of the major phosvitin among the eight fish species revealed marked genus and species specific differences, indicating possibility of making use of these molecules in chemotaxonomy of fishes. 3. 3. The minor phosvitins (L and S) are characterized by the absence of carbohydrate prosthetic groups and lower phosphorus content than the major phosvitin. 4. 4. The minor phosvitins can be considered to be the ancestral molecules of the major phosvitin.