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Multifunctional Roles of Hemocyanins

Christopher J Coates1, Elisa M Costa-Paiva2

  • 1Department of Biosciences, College of Science, Swansea University, Swansea, Wales, SA2 8PP, UK. c.j.coates@swansea.ac.uk.

Sub-Cellular Biochemistry
|March 20, 2020
PubMed

The copper-containing hemocyanins are proteins responsible for the binding, transportation and storage of dioxygen within the blood (hemolymph) of many invertebrates. Several additional functions have been attributed to both arthropod and molluscan hemocyanins, including (but not limited to) enzymatic activity (namely phenoloxidase), hormone transport, homeostasis (ecdysis) and hemostasis (clot formation). An important secondary function of hemocyanin involves aspects of innate immunity-such as acting as a precursor of broad-spectrum antimicrobial peptides and microbial/viral agglutination. In this chapter, we present the reader with an up-to-date synthesis of the known functions of hemocyanins and the structural features that facilitate such activities.

Keywords:
AntimicrobialCryptidesInnate immunityInvertebrateOxygen transport proteinPhenoloxidase

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