RECONSTITUTION OF FUNCTIONAL HEMOCYANIN FROM APOHEMOCYANIN - HEPATOPANCREAS AS COPPER DONOR

1. 1. Apohemocyanin was prepared from hemocyanin of the spiny lobster, Panulirus interruptus. 2. 2. The hepatopancreas of the lobster, which contains 75 per cent of the animal's total copper, was centrifugally fractionated and the supernatant, which contains 90 per cent of the copper of the homogenate, was used as a copper donor for reconstitution of functional hemocyanin from apohemocyanin. 3. 3. Reconstitution occurred at pH's 5, 6 and 7. 4. 4. A low molecular weight fraction of the hepatopancreas supernatant fraction was the source of the copper. 5. 5. Copper replacement by the hepatopancreatic supernatant is non-enzymatic. 6. 6. Copper sulfate was also used to reconstitute hemocyanin. 7. 7. The reconstituted hemocyanin exhibited oxygen-binding characteristics identical to those of the native molecule. © 1969.