Coagulation in the Sand Crab (Ovalipes Bipustulatus)

Summary

The coagulation mechanism of the sand crab (O. bipnsulatus) has been investigated. From the coagulocytes (amoebocytes) present in the crab haemolymph (blood), fibrinogen (coagulogen) was isolated. It was shown to be homogeneous by electrophoresis on S.D.S. polyacrylamide gel and had a molecular weight similar to the A α-chain of human fibrinogen. Unlike human fibrinogen it cannot be dissociated by reduction. In fibrin polymerization, a crosslinking process takes place and this process was inhibited by glycine ethyl ester. A fibrin stabilizing factor is present in the crab haemolymph and this protein was able to cross-link human fibrin in the same manner as human factor XIII.

• References

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