Small-angle X-ray study on the quaternary structure of erythrocruorin from Caenestheria inopinata

The erythrocruorin of the clam shrimp Caenestheria inopinata was studied in sodium phosphate buffer at pH 6.8 by small-angle X-ray scattering. The following molecular parameters were determined: radius of gyration 4.77 +/- 0.05 nm, maximum dimension 14.0 +/- 0.5 nm and a volume of 640 +/- 40 nm3. A model which fits the experimental data well is presented. The model is composed of 10 subunits arranged symmetrically in two layers, whereby five subunits are always forming a ring.