Biochemical Studies on the Skin of Fish-I

Acid-soluble Nucleotides in the Dermis of Some Fishes

Abstract

The fish skin has a peculiar character both in its structure and chemical components. But little has been known about the relations between the physiological functions and the chemical constituents.
On the other hand, many kinds of nucleotides have been found recently as the metabolic intermediates of some biologically important materials. So we have studied the occurrence of the nucleotides and their related compounds in the skin of some fishes so as to discover their relations to their biochemical aspects.
The acid-soluble nucleotides and related compounds in the dermis of fishes were analyzed by anion-exchange chromatography (Dowex 1×8 100-200 mesh formate type). Carp, Rainbow trout and Salmon were used in these experiments.
The results obtained are as follows;
Among the nucleotides, nucleosides and bases studied, hypoxanthine was found in the richest amount. The ratio of hypoxanthine content in all the identified compounds (expressed as μ moles/g fresh weight in Table 3) was 47% (Carp), 71% (Rainbow trout), 88% (Salmon male) and 65% (Salmon female) respectively. Small amounts of uridylic acid, cytidylic acid and inosinic acid were also identified. In addition to these compounds, pteridine was identified in the dermis of Rainbow trout.