title: Isolation and characterization of free haem from the shell gland of quail and hen.
abstract: Free haem was isolated from the shell gland of the quail, Coturnix coturnix japonica, and of the fowl, Galinus domesticus, and characterized by HPLC-ESI-MS/MS. Quantification by HPLC gave values of 1.17-1.40 nmol/mg quail shell gland protein for haem, 1.66-2.17 nmol/mg protein for protoporphyrin and 0.25-0.40 nmol/mg protein for biliverdin. Possible implications of this previously unreported finding are discussed but they are not considered incompatible with the conclusion that all eggshell pigments are endogenously synthesized in the oviduct system.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Sciences, Birkbeck, University of London, Malet Street, London, WC1E 7HX, UK. abel.gorchein@talktalk.net
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gorchein
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Lord
authors.forename: C K
authors.initials: CK
authors.lastname: Lim
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001664:Biliverdine / Q000032:analysis; D002645:Chickens; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid / Q000379:methods; D003370:Coturnix; D004528:Egg Shell; D006418:Heme / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D011524:Protoporphyrins / Q000032:analysis; D021241:Spectrometry, Mass, Electrospray Ionization / Q000379:methods
chemical_list: D011524:Protoporphyrins; D006418:Heme; D001664:Biliverdine