MICROHETEROGENEITY OF C-REACTIVE PROTEIN IN THE SERA OF FISH LABEO-ROHITA INDUCED BY METAL POLLUTANTS

A group of C-reactive proteins (CRPs) have been purified to apparent h omogeneity by calcium (Ca++) dependent affinity chromatography on phos phoryl choline sepharose column from the sera of L, rohita confined in normal and nonlethal doses of cadmium (Cd++) and mercury (Hg++) pollu ted water. The CRPs levels are elevated in the serum of both Cd++ and Hg++ polluted fishes. All three CRPs are glycoproteins having identica l subunits of Mr 33,000. The total content of carbohydrate are 21.4%, 16.4% and 14.2% and that of sialic acid are 3.5%, 2.4% and 1.5% in CRP (Hg)(++) CRP(Cd)(++) and CRP(N) respectively. In native gel electropho resis all three CRPs show differences in mobility. However they move t o identical position after desialylation and deglycosylation. These CR Ps react differentially with different lectins which indicates a varia tion in the carbohydrate moieties resulting their microheterogeneity. (C) 1996 Academic Press, Inc.