Abstract

The electrophoretic and innunological cnalyses of organic matrices in the shells of freshwater bivalves were made in order to dlucidate the biochemical characteristics and species-specific differinces of the applied shells, The water-soluble and insoluble matrices of four species of freshwater bivalves, Andodonta fukudai, Unio douglasiae, Lanceolaria and Chrbicula fluminea, were used as analytical materials, There was non-identity in immuno affinity between anti soluble matrix(anti-Sm) and anti insoluble matrix(anti-ISM)sera against the organic matrix of Andodnta fukudai. The SMs of four species (S. fukudai, U.douglasiae, L. acrorhyncha, and C. fluminea) showed the differences in the precipitate arcs at the level of family, though ISMs did mot show differences. In the electrophoretic analysis, all foru species had two SDS-electrophoretic bands of SM, of which molecular wights appeared to be lower than 55,000, shereas the native organic matrices of foru speceis had higher molecular weighrs than those from SDS-dldctrophoresis. Only calcium ion among many ions in extrapallial fluid(EPF) caused SM to change into insoluble molecules, thus the EPF pretreated with Ca++did not form the precipitate arc when did the immuno diffusion whth anti SM serum. ISM precursor may be polymerized into macromolecules like periostracin, a precusor of periostracum, judging from the similat polymerization patterns in 0.1M Tris formate buffer(pH 3); they may be made insoluble macromolecules due to their strong natrue of hydrophobicity.