CARBONIC ANHYDRASE AND GROWTH IN THE OYSTER AND BUSYCON

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Abstract
1. The carbonic anhydrase activity of Busycon carica was found to increase markedly during development in the egg case. The enzyme activity of whole larvae during the early stages of shell formation may be more than 40 times that of larvae just prior to shell deposition. Larvae with shell may show an increase of nearly 20 fold in enzyme activity in growing from a length of 2.2 mm. to 3.2 mm. 2. In the mantle of the adult oyster Ostrea virginica the carbonic anhydrase activity was in general inversely proportional to the length of the shell. The activity per unit weight of mantle of small oysters may be several times that of large oysters growing in the same location. Curves relating enzyme activity of the mantle to the size of the oyster were distinctly different for oysters growing in different habitats. 3. Carbonic anhydrase is present in both gametes of the oyster, the concentration per unit volume being of the same order in both.

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