Non-respiratory haemolymph proteins in the vineyard snail Helix pomatia. Changes after phagocytosis in vivo.
Haemolymph proteins from the vineyard snail Helix pomatia were studied by chromatographic and immune-electrophoretic techniques with the dual purpose of characterizing the normal composition of haemolymph and to look for possible opsonins. The oxygen-carrying proteins, alpha- and beta-haemocyanin, were by far the most abundant proteins, but at least three non-respiratory proteins could be demonstrated. We found consistent changes in the appearance of the immunoprecipitation pattern of these non-respiratory proteins after the injection of particulate foreign matter into the snail's circulation, and we suggest that they may be opsonins. We also found a haemagglutinin in haemolymph. It was present in very low concentration and was similar to, but not identical with the haemagglutinin which is present in the albumin gland.
D000818:Animals; D006372:Helix, Snails / Q000032:analysis* / Q000276:immunology; D006388:Hemagglutinins / Q000032:analysis; D006458:Hemolymph / Q000032:analysis*; D006358:Hot Temperature; D008970:Molecular Weight; D009895:Opsonin Proteins / Q000032:analysis; D010587:Phagocytosis
D006388:Hemagglutinins; D009895:Opsonin Proteins