Molecular heterogeneity and tissue specificity of tropomyosin obtained from various bivalves

Abstract

1. 1. Molecular heterogeneity and tissue specificity of tropomyosin from various bivalves were investigated by electrophoresis and limited proteolysis with trypsin or Staphylococcus aureus V8 protease. 2. 2. In scallops, a single striated muscle-specific tropomyosin isoform was detected in adductor-striated muscle, two tropomyosin isoforms in adductor-smooth muscle, one specific to smooth muscle and the other identical with the cardiac muscle isoform and a single tropomyosin isoform in cardiac muscle. 3. 3. In eulamellibranchs, the tropomyosin isoform which existed through translucent and opaque portions of the adductor muscle and cardiac muscle was detected in addition to the opaque portion-specific tropomyosin isoform.