Identification of ferritin as a major high molecular weight zinc-binding protein in the tropical rock oyster,Saccostrea cuccullata

Webb, J., Macey, D.J. and Talbot, V. (1985) Identification of ferritin as a major high molecular weight zinc-binding protein in the tropical rock oyster,Saccostrea cuccullata. Archives of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology, 14 (4). pp. 403-407.

Abstract

The metal-binding proteins of the body mass of the tropical rock oyster Saccostrea cuccullata from the iron-ore shipping terminals near Dampier, Western Australia, have been separated by gel chromatography and analyzed for Zn, Fe, and Cu. Appreciable amounts of Zn (40%) and Cu (25%) were eluted in association with a high molecular weight fraction (>60,000 daltons), the major component of which was identified as the heat stable Fe-binding protein, ferritin (approx. mol. wt. 550,000), which also contains 95% of the Fe detected. Ferritin thus accounts for significant amounts of protein-bound Zn in this species and most probably in other bivalves containing elevated tissue levels of Zn.

Item Type:	Journal Article
Murdoch Affiliation:	School of Mathematical and Physical Sciences School of Environmental and Life Sciences
Publisher:	Springer Verlag
Copyright:	(c) Springer Verlag
URI:	http://researchrepository.murdoch.edu.au/id/eprint/1850

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