Amino acids ofDiclidophora merlangi(Monogenea)

Abstract

The level of free amino acids inDiclidophora merlangiis high, comprising over 500 μmoles/g ethanol extracted dry weight. A single amino acid, proline, constitutes some 70% of the total pool. Analysis of parasite protein and host blood and mucus revealed low proline levels, suggesting that the high free pool content was not related to a requirement for protein synthesis or to its abundance in the diet of the worm. Experiments revealed that proline was not involved specifically in osmoregulation, and the reasons for the large amounts present inDiclidophoraremain unknown.