The structure of Artemia salina haemoglobins. A comparative characterisation of four naupliar and adult heamoglobins

Abstract

Haemoglobins of Artemia salina were investigated during development and the results obtained are summarised as follows. a)A new haemoglobin (haemoglobin N) was induced de novo in the hatching nauplius, but not in the prenauplius nor in the embryo. b)Haemoglobin N seemed not to be synthesised in the adult. c)The adult contained three distinct haemoglobins (haemoglobins I, II and III) in a quantitative ratio of 1:6:3, respectively, and these haemoglobins were not detected in nauplius. d)Isoelectric points determined were 5.7,5.6,5.7, and 5.9 for haemoglobin N, I, II and III, respectively. e)All four haemoglobins contained one large polypeptide (Mr= 1.1-1.3 X 10(5)) and possibly two minir polypeptides (Mr = 8-9.5 X 10(4) and Mr = 5.4 X qo(4), respectively).