THE COMPOSITION OF THE BASIC PROTEINS OF ECHINODERM SPERM

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Abstract
Basic proteins were extracted with 0.2[image] HC1 from isolated sperm nuclei of Arbacia punctulata Echinarachnius parma, Asterias forbesi. and the mollusk, Loligo pealii. Amino acid analyses of these proteins indicated a composition similar to the histones found in mammals: in the echinoderms the basic amino acids, arginine, glycine and histidine, accounted for about 50% of the protein N, and for about 57% in the squid. Significant species differences, however, in amino acid composition of the echinoderm proteins were discovered; while even a larger difference was noted between the echinoderms and the mollusk. Nuclear composition was estimated as 27% nucleic acid, 21% histone extractable by acid, and 52% acid-insoluble protein.