COMPOSITION OF AMINO ACID POOLS OF SOME CESTODES OF ELASMOBRANCH FISHES OF WOODS HOLE AREA

Ninhydrin-positive pool components of the cestodes Lacistorhynchus tenuis and Calliobothrium verticillatum from the smoothhound shark (Mustelus canis) and Phyllobothrium foliatum, Rhodobothrium pulvinatum, and Acanthobothrium sp. from the northern sting ray (Dasyatis centroura) were extracted and quantitatively determined. Total pool concentrations of the different species ranged from 46.05 to 112.06 μmoles norleucine equivalents per gram wet tissue. These quantities were distributed among 26 identified compounds and at least three unidentified constituents of relatively low concentration. All species examined were particularly rich in taurine and glycine (respectively, 6.73-10.39 and 5.50-9.78 μmoles norleucine equivalents per gram wet tissue), both of which are known to be particularly abundant in certain free-living marine invertebrates. © 1969.