A plasma protein isolated from brown shrimp (Penaeus californiensis) which enhances the activation of prophenoloxidase system by beta-1,3-glucan.

A beta-glucan-binding protein (BGBP) has been identified in brown shrimp plasma by using a polyclonal antiserum against a BGBP from the freshwater crayfish. The protein was purified by immunoaffinity chromatography, and its molecular and biological properties described. Brown shrimp BGBP is a monomeric protein with a molecular mass of 100 kDa, similar to those described for other crustacean BGBPs. This protein is capable of enhancing the prophenoloxidase (proPO) system activation induced by laminarin. Both amino acid composition and N-terminal sequence are markedly similar to those of crayfish BGBP.