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. 1976 Mar 1;153(3):589–596. doi: 10.1042/bj1530589

Characterization of the extracellular haemoglobin of Haemopsis sanguisuga (L.).

E J Wood, L J Mosby, M S Robinson
PMCID: PMC1172626  PMID: 942373

Abstract

The haemoglobin from the blood of the horseleech, Haemopsis sanguisuga (L.), had a sedimentation coefficient, SO20, w, of 59.11 +/- 0.55 S, and a molecular weight as determined by sedimentation equilibrium of 3.71 X 10(6)+/-9904 X 10(6). In the electron microscope the molecule appeared to be made up of two hexagonal plates, as is found with other worm haemoglobins, with dimensions 24.4+/-2.0 nm (across the hexagon) and 15.2+/-1.4 nm (height). The amino acid composition and spectrum were closely similar to those of the haemoglobins of other annelids (e.g. Lumbricus). The alpha-helical content, calculated from circular-dichroism measurements in the far-u.v. region, was 56-63%. The haem content was 2.49%, corresponding to a minimum molecular weight per haem group of 24 800, but detergent-gel electrophoresis indicated the presence of polypeptide chains of mol.wts. 12 600, 14 800, 15 500 and 25 100. The pH-induced dissociation of the native molecule yielded compotosol of Soya-bean root nodules.

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Selected References

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