Crystallized hemoglobin inRhodnius prolixus after a blood meal on guinea-pig

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Abstract
Summary Several blood-sucking arthropods, after a blood meal, are able to store the hemoglobin from their hosts in a crystalline state in their digestive system5,15,20. Guinea-pig hemoglobin crystallizes in the stomach of the reduviid bugRhodnius prolixus in two different crystal types. We show them to be crystallographically identical and to contain the same liganded state of hemoglobin, i.e. they represent different habits of the same crystal modification. The hemoglobin crystallizes in oxy-form and ages in the crystalline state, first to aquomethemoglobin and subsequently to hemichrome without crystal cracking. The rate of aging appears to be the same for both types. The hemoglobin crystal modification observed in the digestive system ofRhodnius prolixus is highly host- but not parasite- specific. The same modification is also observed in vitro and inOrnithodorus moubata, an arachnid whose digestive system differs considerably from that of the insectRhodnius. The retainment period of the crystals represents a long term host-record of possible medical interest.