STUDIES ON THE BIOGENESIS AND CHEMISTRY OF THE ADHESIVE SUBSTANCE SECRETED BY THE CYPRID AND METAMORPHOSED STAGES OF THE BARNACLE-BALANUS.
Abstract
This report describes the current status of several parameters under investigation in the study of the adhesive substance of barnacles. The morphological characteristics of the barnacle cement apparatus were fully described for the first time through the use of basic histological and cytological techniques and by using histoenzymological methods. These studies are continuing on a wide scale which includes the separation of enzymes on polyacrylamide gels and a biochemical study of their role in cement synthesis. The study of the role of specific enzymes in the molting cycle of barnacles is being continued. During the course of the present studies it became apparent that the development of other areas could lead to effective measures for barnacle control. These methods involve the diseases and natural parasites of barnacles whose associations with barnacles, if completely understood, could be used as biological controls, eliminating or limiting the need for toxic compounds or mechanical anti-fouling methods whose use may harm desirable species as well. Some progress has been made in the chemical analysis of the barnacle adhesive. The material, read on an automatic amino acid analyzer revealed the presence of: aspartic acid, threonine, serine, glutamic acid, proline, glycine, alanine, cystine, valine, methionine, isoleucine, leucine, tyrosine, phenylalanine, lysine, histidine and arginine. The possible molar ratios suggest that barnacle cement is in part composed of a small globular protein. The data also suggests that compounds are present which contain reducing sugars.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Sep 01, 1969
- Accession Number
- AD0706320
Entities
People
- Ross F. Nigrelli