Die elementare Zusammensetzung verschiedener Hämocyanine.

Abstract

Hemocyanins isolated by different methods (mostly including precipitation with (NH4)2SO4, followed by dialysis) from the same species showed close agreement with regard to the Cu-content (Pregl''s method). The samples of hemocyanins prepared are therefore thought to be pure and comparable also with regard to the other elements. In the hemocyanins of the molluscs Helix pomatia, Busycon canaliculatum, Octopus vulgaris and Loligo pealei the Cu-content was identical within limits of error (0.25 [plus or minus] 0.01%). The hemocyanins of the arthropods Limulus polyphemus and Homarus americanus contained only about 0.18% Cu. The S-values obtained for the hemocyanins of these varied from 0.76% {Helix) to 1.19% {Loligo). The molecular ratio S:Cu in the hemocyanins is quite different from the S:Fe ratio in the hemoglobins. The N-values found show variations exceeding the limit of analytical errors (from 15.7% in Loligo to 16.9% in Limulus. The C-percentages vary between 52.8 and 53.5% and lie thus throughout about 1% lower than those of the hemoglobins.