Purification and partial characterization of vitellin from the ovaries of Parapenaeus longirostris (Crustacea, Decapoda, Penaeidae)

1. 1. The vitellin of Parapenaeus longirostris was isolated from ripe ovaries by gel filtration on Sepharose 6B followed by ion exchange chromatography DEAE-Sepharose. 2. 2. The vitellin was identified by comparative PAGE of homogenates prepared from undeveloped and from ripe ovaries as determined by histological sections. The purified vitellin showed one glycoprotein band in disc electrophoresis and one precipitation line in immunoelectrophoresis and immunodiffusion. 3. 3. SDS-PAGE of the purified substance showed two types of subunits weighing 45,000 and 66,000 daltons. 4. 4. Antiserum prepared against the purified vitellin of P. longirostris reacted with homogenates obtained from ripe ovaries of Penaeus semisulcatus.