METHYL FARNESOATE BINDING-PROTEINS IN TISSUES OF THE SPIDER CRAB, LIBINIA-EMARGINATA

Methyl farnesoate (MF) binding proteins (MFBPs) were found in the ovar ies, testes, accessory glands, and hemolymph of the spider crab Libini a emarginata, by photoaffinity labeling the tissues in vitro with trit iated farnesyl diazomethyl ketone ([3H]-FDK). Specificity was demonstr ated by competitive displacement of [3H]-FDK with MF. SDS-PAGE followe d by fluorography revealed several labeled proteins in the hemolymph a nd testes with molecular masses ranging from 29 to 116 kDa, and two in the ovary that were 97 and 70 kDa. Tissues from reproductive animals bound twice as much label per gram weight compared to those that were from non-reproductive crabs. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Inc. All rights reserved.