TIME-COURSE OF TISSUE-SPECIFIC METABOLISM OF THE SUBTIDAL GASTROPOD HEXAPLEX TRUNCULUS UNDER ANAEROBIC CONDITIONS

Anaerobic energy metabolism was investigated in foot, mantle and hepat opancreas of the subtidal gastropod Hexaplex trunculus (Linne, 1758) ( =Murex trunculus). Changes in the levels of adenylates, substrates and end products were monitored over a time course of 16 hours of anoxia. It is suggested that unlike intertidal species, the succinate pathway is a metabolic route of minor importance during anoxia in subtidal ga stropods. The existence of an alternative electron acceptor, apart fro m O-2 and fumarate, in the tissues of the subtidal gastropods under an aerobic conditions is discussed.