Microheterogeneity of C-reactive protein in the sera of fish Labeo rohita induced by metal pollutants

A group of C-reactive proteins (CRPs) have been purified to apparent homogeneity by calcium (Ca++) dependent affinity chromatography on phosphoryl choline sepharose column from the sera of L, rohita confined in normal and nonlethal doses of cadmium (Cd++) and mercury (Hg++) polluted water. The CRPs levels are elevated in the serum of both Cd++ and Hg++ polluted fishes. All three CRPs are glycoproteins having identical subunits of Mr 33,000. The total content of carbohydrate are 21.4%, 16.4% and 14.2% and that of sialic acid are 3.5%, 2.4% and 1.5% in CRP(Hg)(++) CRP(Cd)(++) and CRP(N) respectively. In native gel electrophoresis all three CRPs show differences in mobility. However they move to identical position after desialylation and deglycosylation. These CRPs react differentially with different lectins which indicates a variation in the carbohydrate moieties resulting their microheterogeneity. (C) 1996 Academic Press, Inc.