1982 Volume 48 Issue 6 Pages 827-832
Myosins were prepared from the ordinary muscles of 14 species of fish, and analyzed for light chain subunits by SDS-gel electrophoresis. DTNB light chain and two alkali light chains A1 and A2, in the order of increasing mobility, were dissociated from the myosin of each fish. Molecular weights of the myosin subunits were determined to be in the ranges 17, 500-21, 000 for DTNB light chains, 25, 000-30, 000 for A1 and 13, 500 for A2 light chinas, respectively.
In each scombroid fish tested, the molecular weight of A2 was clearly than that of DTNB light chain; the opposite result was found in several othere fishes including carp and pufferfish. In the group of fishes such as sardine and horse mackerel, both light chains showed the same the same molecular weight. These results suggested that there is some correlation between the molecular weight of A2 and the locomotory activity of fish.
Quantitaive analysis showed that piscine myosins contained approximately two moles each of DTNB and of alkali light chains per mole. However, the rations of A1/A2 differed widely, form 0.1 (grunt) to 2.6 (requiem shark).