Hemocyanin structure changes during early development of the crab Cancer productus

AbstractHemocyanin is present in oocytes and embryos of the brachyuran crab Cancer productus. Oocyte hemocyanin, like adult crab hemocyanin, exists as two hexamer (25S) and single hexamer (16S) aggregates. The two hexamer molecule is composed of at least four electrophoretically distinct subunits. The electrophoretic properties of oocyte hemocyanin subunits are indistinguishable from those of the corresponding adult hemocyanin. Evidence is presented that oocytes could take up maternal hemocyanin through endocytosis. Hemocyanin present in the developing embryo also exists as two hexamer and hexamer aggregates. However, the embryo two hexamer hemocyanin shows an electrophoretic pattern of subunits different from that of maternal or oocyte two hexamer hemocyanin. These data, together with previous studies on other species of decapod crustaceans, indicate that hemocyanin different from the adult molecule is produced after fertilization of the egg.