Studies on bioactive marine metabolites. VIII. Characterization of the antibacterial and antineoplastic glycoproteins in a sea hare Aplysia juliana.

Abstract
Aplysia juliana had antibacterial and antitumor glycoproteins in its reproductive organs. A major active factor isolated from the genital mass was a glycoprotein having a molecular weight of 375, 000. It was composed of non-covalently bonded subunits of a molecular weight of 78, 000. A similar glycoprotein was also isolated from the eggs laid. These molecules are closely related in their antigenic specificity to the antibacterial glycoproteins (aplysianins) found in the corresponding organs of A. kurodai. Antibacterial activity of fertilized eggs disappeared by the time embryos assumed their veliger forms. From these observations we assume that aplysianins and related glycoproteins serve as a part of defense system of eggs in early stages of prehatching development of Aplysiidae.

This publication has 0 references indexed in Scilit: