Chelatins in Euglena gracilis and Ochromonas danica

Amino acid analysis was performed on low molecular weight copper binding proteins purified from two species of Protozoa after exposure to a high level of this metal. The compound from Ochromonas is similar to Cu-chelatins. The two peptides from Euglena have a different molecular weight and a very dissimilar amino acid composition. Peptide No. 1 has a peculiar composition with a high content of aspartic acid and arginine. Some speculations are made about its detoxification role in comparison with other compounds found in blue-green algae.