Marine organisms proteins

Simply on the basis of the normal composition of marine organisms, we would expect proteins and peptides to be normal constituents of the dissolved organic carbon in seawater. While free amino acids might be expected as products of enzymic hydrolysis of proteins, the rapid uptake of these compounds by bacteria would lead us to expect that free amino acids would normally constitute a minor part of the dissolved organic pool. This is precisely what we do find the concentration of free amino acids seldom exceeds 150 xg/l in the open ocean. It would be expected that the concentration of combined amino acids would be many times as great. There have been relatively few measurements of proteins and peptides, and most of the measurements were obtained by measuring the free amino acids before and after a hydrolysis step. Representative methods of this type have been described [245-259]. Since these methods are basically free amino acid methods, they will be discussed next in conjunction with those methods. 

Wrench, J.J. and N.C. Campbell. 1981. Protein bound selenium in some marine organisms. Chemosphere 10 1155-1161. 

Vanadium seems to be bound in the cytoplasm to vanadium binding proteins (vanabins, of molecular weights 12-16 kDa). However, the precise role of vanadium in these marine organisms remains unknown. 

Marine organisms concentrate metals in their tissues and skeletal materials. Many of these trace metals are classified as micronutrients because they are required, albeit in small amounts, for essential metabolic functions. Some are listed in Table 11.4, illustrating the role of metals in the enzyme systems involved in glycolysis, the tricarboxylic acid cycle, the electron-transport chain, photosynthesis, and protein metabolism. These micronutrients are also referred to as essential metals and, as discussed later, have the potential to be biolimiting. 

Amino acids become linked by reactions that occur between the amine group of one amino acid and the carboxyl group of another. As shown in Figure 22.23, this polymerization produces a molecule of water and, hence, is a condensation reaction. Naturally occurring polypeptides with molecular weights in excess of 10,000 daltons are termed proteins. These biomolecules are ubiquitous in marine organisms and are not specific to particular species. Proteins are important components of enzymes as well as of structural parts and connective tissues. 

Besides peptides, marine organisms have been reported to produce biologically active proteins, which are probably involved in the protection of organisms against physiological and stress conditions. Recently, these molecules have been cloned from sponges [324] and marine microorganisms [325],... 

The majority of biomonitoring studies involves analyzing the bulk contaminant concentration in the whole body or selected tissues of organisms. However, many marine organisms (both vertebrate and invertebrate) possess defense mechanisms to cope with contamination, through immobilization and accumulation in specific organs, cells, or proteins 106 accumulated contaminants can then be stored, metabolized, or excreted. In view of this, the validity of bulk chemical analyses as a measure of contaminant impact and toxicity must be questioned. 

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