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Hemoglobin in Chironomus ramosus (Insecta, Diptera): an electrophoretic study of polymorphism, developmental sequence and interspecific relationship

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Abstract

The larvae of the dipteran insect, Chironomus ramosus, found in Shillong, India, contain eleven (11) hemoglobin (Hb) components of which three are monomers (CI, CIV and CVI) and seven are dimers (CIII, CV, CVII, CVIII, CIX, CX and CXI), while one (CII) exists in both monomeric and dimeric states.

Four monomeric components were isolated, purified and partially characterized. The N-terminal amino acids were determined and showed glycine for CI and leucine for the other components (CII, CIV and CVI).

Three hemoglobin components were found to be present in all stages of larval development, except the first instar larvae. Some Hb components were synthesized in a particular instar, as revealed by electrophoretic appearance.

Electrophoretic mobilities of seven components and N-terminal amino acid residues of two components of Hb were similar in both Chironomus ramosus and Chironomus thummi thummi.

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Das, R., Handique, R. Hemoglobin in Chironomus ramosus (Insecta, Diptera): an electrophoretic study of polymorphism, developmental sequence and interspecific relationship. Hydrobiologia 318, 43–50 (1996). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00014130

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00014130

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