Hemolymph ferritin and radula structure in the limpets Patelloida alticostata and Patella peronii (Mollusca: Gastropoda)

Burford, M.A., Macey, D.J. and Webb, J. (1986) Hemolymph ferritin and radula structure in the limpets Patelloida alticostata and Patella peronii (Mollusca: Gastropoda). Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology Part A: Physiology, 83 (2). pp. 353-358.

Abstract

1. 1. The mean concentration of total hemolymph iron was 3060μg/100 ml in Patella peronii and 2950μg/100 ml in Patelloida alticostata.
2. 2. Ferritin was found to act as a major iron-binding protein in the hemolymph of both P. peronii and P. alticostata.
3. 3. P. alticostata ferritin has a molecular weight of approximately 505,000, while that of P. peronii has a mol wt. of approximately 520,000.
4. 4. The lateral radula teeth of both species are mineralized by deposits of silica (SiO2) and iron in the form of goethite (α-FeOOH).
5. 5. Hemolymph ferritin is suggested to act as a high capacity transport system to supply iron to the mineralizing front of the radula.