A simple procedure for evaluating the protein degradation rate in mussel (Mytilus galloprovincialis Lam.) tissues and its application in a study of phenanthrene effects on protein catabolism

A. Viarengo, M. N. Moore, M. Pertica, G. Mancinelli, R. Accomando

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

1. 1. An improved, simple method for the evaluation of the protein catabolic rate in the tissues of the lamellibranch mollusc Mytilus galloprovincialis Lam. is presented. 2. 2. This procedure, which utilizes the technique of the decay curve of a labeled amino acid (14C-leucine) in the tissues, exploits the capacity of these organisms to rapidly take up soluble compounds from sea-water. 3. 3. When mussels are exposed to 14C-leucine in the sea-water, the labeled amino acid is rapidly accumulated into the cell proteins. 4. 4. A further addition of unlabeled leucine to the sea-water drastically decreases the specific activity of soluble amino acids into the cells, so that the reincorporation of the labeled leucine into the proteins becomes negligible, allowing a correct estimation of the degradation rate of the proteins. 5. 5. This procedure was utilized to evaluate the effect of phenanthrene on the rate of catabolism of cytosolic proteins in the digestive gland of mussels, and to study the relationship between the protein degradation rate and the activity of lysosomes, which play a well-established role in the catabolism of macromolecules.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)27-32
Number of pages6
JournalComparative Biochemistry and Physiology - B Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Volume103
Issue number1
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Sept 1992
Externally publishedYes

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