title: Characterization of nematocyst proteins from the sea anemones Aiptasia pallida and Pachycerianthus torreyi (Cnidaria: Anthozoa).
abstract: Nematocysts from the anemones Aiptasia pallida and Pachycerianthus torreyi were investigated. SDS-polyacrylamide electrophoresis of solubilized Aiptasia nematocysts revealed one major protein band (mol. wt 31,800) and several minor components. Coelectrophoresed whole venom contained numerous protein components, of which a major one appeared to be identical to the major nematocyst protein. Nematocyst capsules and everted threads from both species contained levels of glycine and proline-hydroxyproline characteristic of vertebrate collagens. Cysteine was present in significant amounts. Aiptasia whole venom contained high levels of glutamic acid and/or glutamine (71%) with no detectable cysteine or proline-hydroxyproline. The 31,800-dalton venom protein possessed only glycine (80%) and glutamyl and/or glutaminyl (20%) residues.
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Phelan
authors.forename: R S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Blanquet
mesh_terms: D000596:Amino Acids / Q000032:analysis; D000818:Animals; D003063:Cnidaria / Q000032:analysis*; D003064:Cnidarian Venoms / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D004591:Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel; D008970:Molecular Weight; D011506:Proteins / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D012615:Sea Anemones / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D000596:Amino Acids; D003064:Cnidarian Venoms; D011506:Proteins