• The Korean Journal of Zoology
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• v.39 no.3
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• pp.307-316
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• 1996

A persistent major haemolyruph protein (MHP) was confirmed, and its ontogeny and physicochemical charadedstics were investigated in Helicoverpa assulta. The MHP existed continually during larval-pupal-adult development, and its ontogeny was similar to that of total haemolymph protein concentration during development. Its content increased with larval growth, and kept to high level during pupal-adult development except for temporary decrease at the early pupal and adult stages. The MHP was purified by ammonium sulfate precipitation, gel filtration and ion exchange chromatography. The purified MHP was determined to be hexamer glycolipoprotein (pI 5.9, M.W. 414kDa) consisted of single type subunit (69kDa). Amino acid analysis suggested that the MHP contained a relatively high content of aromatic amino acids (18.27 mole % of tryptophan, 7.47 mole % of tyrosine and 6.51 mole % of phenylalanine) compared to storage proteins from other insects. Immunodiffusion test and electrophoretic analysis of the organ proteins (gut, fat body, and Malphigian tubule) suggested that the major haemolymph protein was present in the fat body.