Heterogeneity of the Minimum Functional Unit of Hemocyanins from the Spider (Argiope bruennichii), the Scorpion (Heterometrus sp.), and the Horseshoe Crab (Tachypleus tridentatus)

The heterogeneity of arthropod hemocyanins was studied by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and immunochemical techniques. The spider (Argiope bruennichii), the scorpion (Heterometrus sp.), and the horseshoe crab (Tachypleus tridentatus) were found to have 4, 5, and 5 minimum functional units of hemocyanin, respectively, the apparent molecular weights of which were 79,000, 81,000, and 80,000, respectively, as determined by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis.