title: A new method for concentration of proteins in the calcareous corpuscles separated from the spargana of Spirometra erinacei.
abstract: Calcareous corpuscles are a characteristic structure found in larval and adult stage cestodes. These corpuscles are known to contain several protein components and to possess protein-binding activity. However, the proteins bound to calcareous corpuscles in situ have not been studied. The present study was undertaken to identify the proteins on calcareous corpuscles. Calcareous corpuscles were purified from the plerocercoids (= spargana) of Spirometra erinacei, and serially dissolved using 0.1 M sulfamic acid solution. Collected supernatants were examined by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) and silver staining. The results showed that only the fraction remaining after the 19th dissolved fraction contained proteins. A total of 20 protein molecules were detected in gel, with major bands at 56, 53, 46, 40, 35, 29, 28, 24.5, 21, 19, 16, 13, 10 and 8 kDa. In particular, the proteins corresponding to the 21 and 16 kDa bands were most abundant. Our results demonstrated for the first time the protein contents of the calcareous corpuscles of spargana. Further studies on the functions of these proteins are required.
authors.affiliation: Department of Parasitology, College of Medicine, Inha University, Incheon 400-712, Korea.
authors.forename: Yun Kyu
authors.initials: YK
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Jae Hwan
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Sang Mee
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Guk
authors.forename: Eun Hee
authors.initials: EH
authors.lastname: Shin
authors.forename: Jong Yil
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Chai
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002498:Centrifugation; D004591:Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel; D015801:Helminth Proteins / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*; D008970:Molecular Weight; D011485:Protein Binding; D016622:Silver Staining; D013032:Sparganum / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism*; D013146:Spirometra / Q000378:metabolism*; D013451:Sulfonic Acids
chemical_list: D015801:Helminth Proteins; D013451:Sulfonic Acids; C005741:sulfamic acid