Carnivora: The Primary Structure of the Common Otter(Lutra lutra,Mustelidae) Hemoglobin

Abstract
The hemoglobin of the Common Otter (Lutra lutra, Carnivora) contains only one component. The complete primary structures of the .alpha.- and .beta.-chains are presented. They were separated by high-performance liquid chromatography and the sequences determined by automatic liquid and gas-phase Edman degradation of the chains and their tryptic peptides. The .alpha.-chains show 18 and the .beta.-chains 13 substitutions compared to human .alpha.- and .beta.-chains, respectively. In the .alpha.-chains one heme- and two .alpha.1/.beta.1-contaacts are exchanged. In the .beta.-chains the replacements involve one heme-, one .alpha.1/.beta.1-, and one .alpha.1/.beta.2-contact. The .alpha.- and .beta.-chains of the Common Otter are compared to those of other Carnivora hemoglobins. The unexpected low number of substitutions between Common Otter hemoglobin and that of Lesser Panda as well as of Habor Seal is discussed.

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