Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-t5tsf Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-10-31T23:20:44.063Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Ultrastructural localization and antibacterial activity of phenoloxidase in amphioxus Branchiostoma belcheri tsingtauense

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  05 September 2001

Guorong Li
Affiliation:
Department of Biology, Shandong Teachers' University, Jinan 250014, People's Republic of China
Shicui Zhang
Affiliation:
Department of Marine Biotechnology, Ocean University of Qingdao, Qingdao 266003, People's Republic of China
Hongyan Li
Affiliation:
Department of Marine Biotechnology, Ocean University of Qingdao, Qingdao 266003, People's Republic of China

Abstract

Phenoloxidase (PO) has been shown to be present in both invertebrates and vertebrates, yet little is known about the PO in Branchiostoma belcheri tsingtauense. The present study demonstrated that the PO activity existed histochemically the epithelial cells of the gill bar and intestine of adult animal, producing brown to black melanin deposits. Ultrastructural examination revealed that PO reaction products were localized in the cytoplasmic granules of the epidermal cells, the epithelial cells of gill bar and intestine and most of them were electron-dense and homogenous. Frequently, the PO reaction products were also observed in the secondary lysosomes.  The mucus from the body surface had little antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli, but it enhanced the antibacterial activity of L-dopa and the enhancement was suppressed by PTU, a PO specific inhibitor. This indicates that the active material inhibiting the E. coli growth in the mucus is PO.

Type
Short Communication
Copyright
2001 Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)