TAXONOMIC MODIFICATION OF AMINO ACID COMPOSITION IN THE PROTEINS OF MOLLUSCAN SHELLS

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Abstract
A comparison of amino acid composition was made on the proteins from different structur-al units of two shells of Cephalopoda, of three shells of Gastropoda, and of five shells of Bivalvia for exploring the taxonomic and ecological modifications in the amino acid pattern. The conchiolin matrix obtained from a decalcified shell was put in a glass tube containing 2ml. of a 6N hydrochloric acid solution, sealed and then hydrolysed for 22 hours at 110°C. The hydrolyzate of conchiolin was treated according to an usual way for an automatic amino acid analysis. The conchiolin of any given species appears to have a specific amino acid pattern, though the pattern varied considerably between non-mineralized and mineralized layers of a same shell (Fig. 1). They may be clearly classified in amino acid composition under the three groups of Cephalopoda, Gastropoda and Bivalvia. Such ecological elements as food habits and environments do not seem to disturb the proper amino acid patterns which the groups of animals possess.

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