An albumin-like protein in the serum of non-parasitic brook lamprey (Lampetra appendix) is restricted to preadult phases of the life cycle in contrast to the parasitic species Petromyzon marinus.
Previous work showed that the parasitic sea lamprey, Petromyzon marinus, has two different albumin-like serum proteins during the course of its life cycle. One of these, AS, is the predominant protein in the serum of larval and metamorphosing intervals but is absent in the upstream migration phase of the life cycle; the other, SDS-1, is found at its highest level in the upstream migration phase and is the predominant serum protein in this phase. The present investigation examines the nonparasitic brook lamprey Lampetra appendix for the presence of albumins. Using electrophoresis and antisera monospecific for serum proteins, it was found that L. appendix has a serum protein that is antigenically similar to the AS protein of P. marinus. This protein (LAS) makes up about 70% of the total serum protein of the Lampetra larva, is present in metamorphic stages 1,2,3,4 and 5 but is virtually absent from the remaining metamorphic stages and the adult. Furthermore, the adult of L. appendix has no serum protein that is antigenically similar to SDS-1 of the adult P. marinus; our study shows that, unlike P. marinus, there is no single protein that represents a major portion of the total serum protein content in the L. appendix adult.
Danis
M H
MH
Department of Zoology, University of Toronto at Scarborough, Ont., Canada.
Filosa
M F
MF
Youson
J H
JH
D000418:Albumins / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D000818:Animals; D004591:Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel; D005779:Immunodiffusion; D007122:Immunoelectrophoresis; D007798:Lampreys / Q000097:blood*; D013997:Time Factors
D000418:Albumins