ENZYMATIC DEFENSES AGAINST OXYGEN-TOXICITY IN THE HYDROTHERMAL VENT ANIMALS RIFTIA-PACHYPTILA AND CALYPTOGENA-MAGNIFICA

Two deep-sea hydrothermal vent organisms, the tube worm R. pachyptila and the clam C. magnifica, contain superoxide dismutase, dianisidine peroxidase and glutathione peroxidase. The tube worm trophosome exhibits an Fe-containing superoxide dismutase, ordinarily associated with prokaryotes and not previously seen in an animal tissue, in accord with the presence of symbiotic bacteria in this tissue. The enzymes which provide a defense against O2 toxicity are present in these animals.