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A 160‐kDa Protein Is Essential for Hemocyanin‐derived Melanosis of Prawn
Author(s) -
Adachi K.,
Hirata T.,
Fujio A.,
Nishioka T.,
Sakaguchi M.
Publication year - 2003
Publication title -
journal of food science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.772
H-Index - 150
eISSN - 1750-3841
pISSN - 0022-1147
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2621.2003.tb08239.x
Subject(s) - prawn , melanosis , hemocyanin , biology , cuticle (hair) , biochemistry , chemistry , food science , fishery , anatomy , melanoma , immunology , genetics , antigen
A purified 160‐kDa protein, isolated from the cuticle of kurama prawn and named melanosis collaborating factor (MCF), was a key factor in promoting melanosis by a cooperative reaction with hemocyanin‐derived phenoloxidase but hemocyanin itself was incapable of producing black pigment. The enzymatic activity of MCF in the body of the prawn was very stable against the process of freezing and thawing; the enzyme maintained more than 80% of its activity after 3 mo of storage at −2 5 °C. These results indicated that MCF, acting in conjunction with hemocyanin‐derived phenoloxidase, played a crucial role in postharvest melanogenesis in prawn.