Haemoglobins of invertebrate tissues. Nerve haemoglobins of Aphrodite, Aplysia and Halosydna

Abstract

The occurrence of haemoglobin in invertebrate nerves is surveyed. Haemoglobin was observed in the nerves and ganglia of the marine nematode Amphiporus sp. and of the polychaet annelid Halosydna sp. Haemoglobins from the nerve and ganglia of the polychaet annelid Aphrodite aculeata L. and from the nerve of the gastropod mollcus Aplysia californica have been partially purified. The haem in each case was identified as iron protoporphyrin IX. The minimum molecular weight of Aphrodite nerve haemoglobin deduced from the haem content and amino acid analysis is 17090, in agreement with the molecular weight 15600 [plus or minus] 1000 determined by sedimentation equilibrium. The molecular weight of Aplysia nerve haemoglobin was determined by sedimentation equilibrium to be 16400 [plus or minus] 1000. The oxygen dissociation curves are hyperbolic. Half-saturation is achieved at 1-1 mm. Hg for Aphrodite nerve haemoblobin and at 4-0mm. Hg for Aplysia nerve haemoglobin. The coefficients for partition between carbon monoxide and oxygen are: Aphrodite nerve haemoglobin, 67; Aplysia nerve haemoglobin, 116. The ferrous haemoglobins combine with cyanide. We conclude that the intracellular haemoglobins of muscle and nerve are similar.