Comparison of the biochemical composition of normal epidermal mucus extruded slime of hagfish (Myxine glutinosa L.)

From National Research Council Canada

DOIResolve DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fsi.2008.08.012
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Name affiliation
  1. National Research Council of Canada. Industrial Research Assistance Program
  2. National Research Council of Canada. Aquatic and Crop Resource Development
FormatText, Article
Journal titleFish & Shellfish Immunology
Volume25
Issue5
Pages625–632
Abstract
Hagfish (Myxine glutinosa) secrete normal epidermal mucus and extruded slime. The epidermal mucus is produced continuously to prevent pathogen adherence while the extruded slime is observed predominantly during feeding, provocation or stress. To date little is known about the involvement of extruded slime in the physiological functions of hagfish. In this preliminary study, innate immune enzymes and the protein composition of hagfish normal epidermal mucus and extruded slime were analysed and compared. The lysozyme specific activity of hagfish was observed approximately two-fold higher in extruded slime than that of epidermal mucus. The extruded slime had approximately 3.5–5.0 fold increased levels of alkaline phosphatase, cathepsin B and proteases in comparison to epidermal mucus. Protease characterization using specific inhibitors showed that the extruded slime had higher levels of serine trypsin-like proteases compared to metalloproteases whereas epidermal mucus showed equal proportion of both serine and metalloproteases. SDS-PAGE analysis showed high levels of three proteins with molecular masses in the range of 13–16 kDa in the extruded slime. The LC/MS/MS analysis of protein bands 1, 2 and 3 showed closest matches to hemoglobulin-3, histone H3 and H2B proteins, respectively. The observation of elevated levels of innate immune parameters in the extruded slime suggested that the extruded slime has a significant role in innate immunity of hagfish against infectious pathogens
Publication date
PublisherElsevier
LanguageEnglish
Peer reviewedYes
NRC numberNRCC 42788
1751
NPARC number3538373
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