title: Composition and properties of the soluble organic matrix of the otolith of a marine fish: Gadus morhua Linne, 1758 (Teleostei, Gadidae).
abstract: The soluble matrix of the sagittal otolith of the cod Gadus morhua was analyzed using UV and IR spectroscopy, liquid chromatography and electrophoresis. This matrix is a complex mixture of proteins and glycoproteins, with a large range of molecular weights. High weights (>1000 kDa) are shown for the first time in water-soluble matrix of otolith. However, the 2D denaturing electrophoresis and large range of sorting used in high performance liquid chromatography columns do not separate the soluble matrix to well-defined molecular weights. The IR data indicate that several conformations are present and the main part of the sugars is not sulfated. Additionally, electrophoresis data show that the acidity of the sugar components is higher than that of the proteins. Despite the relative scarcity of literature data, our study of G. morhua suggests that the chemical composition of otolith soluble organic matrix may differ among species.
authors.affiliation: UMR 8616, Laboratoire de Paléontologie, bât. 504, Université Paris Sud, 91405 Cedex, Orsay, France. dauphin@geophy.geol.u-psud.fr
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Dauphin
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Dufour
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D029941:Fish Proteins / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry; D005399:Fishes / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D008970:Molecular Weight; D010037:Otolithic Membrane / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism*; D012995:Solubility; D013056:Spectrophotometry, Ultraviolet; D017550:Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared
chemical_list: D029941:Fish Proteins