Isolation and characterization of the female-specific protein (vitellogenin) in mature female hemolymph of the freshwater prawn, Macrobrachium rosenbergii: comparison with ovarian vitellin.

Purification and characterization of the female-specific protein (vitellogenin) from the hemolymph of mature female prawn, Macrobrachium rosenbergii, were the objectives of this study. The comparison of biochemical characteristics between vitellogenin and ovarian vitellin was also conducted. Hemolymph vitellogenin was purified with DEAE, hydroxylapatite, and another DEAE chromatographic column. The specific protein (vitellogenin) was shown in the fractions of chromatographic columns on the basis of ELISA, Western blotting, and immunoprecipitation. A purified vitellogenin was obtained with an apparent molecular weight of 700 kDa as determined by PAGE. The purified vitellogenin was considered as a lipoglycoprotein on the basis of staining data. Three subunits (170, 100, and 89 kDa) in purified vitellogenin and two subunits (100 and 89 kDa) in vitellin were detected with SDS-PAGE. Nondisulfide bonds were found in the binding of polypeptide subunits. Only the 89-kDa subunit was a glycopolypeptide in both vitellogenin and vitellin. The amino acid composition of vitellogenin differed from that of vitellin in a few amino acids. Eight amino acid sequences from the N-terminal end of 89- and 100-kDa subunits were determined and they were identical between vitellogenin and vitellin. Seven amino acid sequence from the N-terminal end of the 170-kDa subunit were also identical to the 100-kDa subunit. Purified vitellogenin was more susceptible to precipitation in a solution with low ionic strength than vitellin. This study suggests a close relationship between vitellogenin and vitellin in M. rosenbergii in their biochemical characteristics. Copyright 1997 Academic Press.