Cunningham Monica, Laino Aldana, Romero Sofia, Fernando Garcia C
INIBIOLP (CONICET-UNLP) - Facultad de Ciencias Médicas, UNLP, Calles 60 y 120, 1900, La Plata, Argentina.
Subcell Biochem. 2020;94:219-231. doi: 10.1007/978-3-030-41769-7_8.
Hemocyanin (Hc), a copper-containing extracellular multimeric protein, is the major protein component of hemolymph in different arachnid groups. Hc possesses 7 or 8 very well-characterized types of monomers with molecular weights ranging from 70 to 85 kDa, organized in hexamers or multiple of hexamers. The present chapter compiles the existing data with relation to the function of this protein in the arachnids. Hc has as main function the reversible transport of O, but it shows many secondary though not less important functions. With reference to this, it has been described that Hc can transport hydrophobic molecules (lipid-derived hormones and lipids) to the different organs, having a key role in the lipid transport system. In arachnids, like in other arthropods and invertebrates, Hc has phenoloxidase function which is related to different metabolic processes such as melanin formation and defense against pathogens. In addition, Hc has additional defensive functions since it can serve as precursor for the production of antimicrobial peptides. In short, the evolution of this protein has led to the development of multiple functions essential for organisms possessing this protein.
血蓝蛋白（Hc）是一种含铜的细胞外多聚体蛋白，是不同蛛形纲动物血淋巴的主要蛋白质成分。Hc拥有7种或8种特征明确的单体类型，分子量在70至85 kDa之间，以六聚体或六聚体的倍数形式存在。本章汇编了与该蛋白在蛛形纲动物中的功能相关的现有数据。Hc的主要功能是可逆地运输氧气，但它还具有许多次要但同样重要的功能。就此而言，已有描述表明Hc可以将疏水分子（脂质衍生激素和脂质）运输到不同器官，在脂质运输系统中起关键作用。在蛛形纲动物中，与其他节肢动物和无脊椎动物一样，Hc具有酚氧化酶功能，这与黑色素形成和抵御病原体等不同代谢过程有关。此外，Hc还具有额外的防御功能，因为它可以作为抗菌肽产生的前体。简而言之，这种蛋白质的进化导致了对拥有该蛋白质的生物体至关重要的多种功能的发展。
