Electron Microscopy of Hemocyanins from Arthropods and Molluscs: Assembly, Dissociation and Re-assembly

Abstract

Hemocyanins are copper containing respiratory proteins, which occur freely dissolved in the hemolymph of invertebrate species belonging to the phyla Arthropods and Molluscs. Their molecular weights are ranging from 450,000 to 9,000,000 dependent on the biological origin. They are remarkable in the variety of subunit aggregates they form. They dissociate reversibly into oligomeric and monomeric structures when the environmental conditions such as pH and ionic strength are changed (Van Holde and van Bruggen, 1971). This article will focus its attention to the role played by electron microscopy in the elucidation of the assembly, dissociation and reassembly of various hemocyanins.