ISOLATION OF A 90-KDA PROTEIN FROM HEMOCYTES OF BLABERUS-CRANIIFER WHICH HAS SIMILAR FUNCTIONAL AND IMMUNOLOGICAL PROPERTIES TO THE 76-KDA PROTEIN FROM CRAYFISH HEMOCYTES

A 90 kDa protein has been partially purified from Blaberus craniifer haemocytes and shown to cross-react with a monospecific antiserum against a 76 kDa protein from the blood cells of the crayfish, Pacifastacus leniusculus. The Blaberus protein functioned both to enhance adhesion of the cockroach haemocytes to the substratum and to induce the degranulation of these cells by a regulated exocytosis. Cross reactivity studies showed that the Blaberus protein could also enhance the adhesion and degranulation of the Pacifastacus blood cells whilst the crayfish protein induced the same reactions with the cockroach haemocytes. The Blaberus 90 kDa protein is probably involved in controlling cell to cell cooperation during immunoreactivity by the cockroach haemocytes.