Summary
From the coagulocytes (amoebocytes) coagulogen (fibrinogen) was isolated, and purified
on Sephacryl S-200.
The cell homogenate contained one major protein species with a minimum molecular weight
of 70,000. This protein clotted in the presence of human thrombin, human factor XIII
and Ca++.
The coagulogen contained no free thiol groups, however these were detectable in the
reduced protein. Using the cyanoethylation procedure, it was estimated that one coagulogen
molecule contained two lysine residues which participated in the cross-linking reaction.
The total amino add composition of the crab coagulogen and coagulin (fibrin) was estimated
and compared with the amino acid composition of the Limulus polyphemus, lobster (Panulirus
interruptus) and porcine fibrinogen.
Keywords
Crab coagulogen - Polymerisation of coagulogen - Crosslinking sites - Amino acid analysis
