title: Calcitonin-like immunoreactivity in the blue crab: tissue distribution, variations in the molt cycle, and partial characterization.
abstract: Calcitonin-like immunoreactivity has been found in blood and tissues of the marine blue crab, Callinectes sapidus Rathbun. The activity in blood rises significantly during the immediate premolt (D4) stage, but tissue immunoreactivity does not vary significantly with molt stage. The immunoreactivity to antisalmon calcitonin serum is due to a 27.2 kDa protein that shows strong similarities in amino acid composition to a similar protein in a lobster and to human calcitonin precursor. The protein is most abundant in the midgut glands (hepatopancreas), but is also found in significant quantities in several other tissues. Immunoreactivity in the blood appears to be primarily due to the same molecular weight fraction, with secondary contributions from smaller molecules, closer in size to vertebrate calcitonin. A physiological function of the calcitonin-like substance in calcium transport during or after molt has yet to be demonstrated.
authors.affiliation: Department of Zoology, University of Texas Marine Science Institute, Port Aransas 78373.
authors.forename: J N
authors.initials: JN
authors.lastname: Cameron
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Thomas
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000596:Amino Acids / Q000032:analysis; D000818:Animals; D003386:Brachyura / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D002116:Calcitonin / Q000737:chemistry / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D005260:Female; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D011863:Radioimmunoassay
chemical_list: D000596:Amino Acids; D002116:Calcitonin