Jumping on the Edge-First Evidence for a 2 × 6-meric Hemocyanin in Springtails.

ABSTRACT: Hemocyanins are respiratory dioxygen carrier proteins found in many arthropods including ancient terrestrial species such as spiders and scorpions as well as marine horseshoe crabs. As hemocyanins are highly conserved in this lineage, it is possible to observe an evolutionary descent through its subunits and their overall structure. Unfortunately, little is known about the structure and function of hexapod hemocyanins. Using recent springtail taxa (Collembola) as models for basal hexapods, and the help of electron microscopy, light scattering, SDS PAGE, and Western blot, we could demonstrate for the first time the presence of 2 × 6-meric hemocyanins in the hemolymph of hexapods. The quaternary structure is composed of at least two different subunits and looks nearly identical to the hemocy

SUBMITTER: Schmidt J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6769593 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature