Abstract
Echinoderms possess colbagenousconnective tissues that are capable of rapid, nervously mediated changes in their tensile strength. Arm autotomy in sea stars is facilitated by a rapid decrease in the tensile strength of connective tissues in the arm base. In this study, an autotomy-promoting factor (APF) has been isolated from the fluids released by scalded or autotomiz ing sea stars (Pycnopodia helianthoides). When injected into the cobeom, APF elicits a complex behavioral re sponse that culminates within minutes in multiple arm autotomy and a generalized softening of the body wall. Injection offluid from intact, untreated sea stars does not promote the autotomy response. APF is a water soluble, heat-labile substance derived from the body wall. It is ammonium sulphate precipitable and its activity is re duced or destroyed by several proteolytic enzymes. On the basis of its gel permeation ebution pattern, APF has M@ ofabout 1200 Dabtons. APF can be purified to a sin gle peak of activity by reversed-phase HPLC. We con dude the substance is a peptide or has a peptide com ponent.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
