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Epithelial immunity in a marine invertebrate: a cytolytic activity from a cuticular secretion of the American horseshoe crab, Limulus polyphemus

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Abstract

The cuticle of the American horseshoe crab, Limulus polyphemus, is largely free of the macroscopic epibionts that rapidly colonize most solid surfaces exposed to sea water. Here, we describe a viscous surface secretion that coats the carapace of the horseshoe crab. We report methods for stimulating production of the substance, identify hemolytic and liposome-permeabilizing activities and provide a partial biochemical characterization. We propose that this secretion functions as an anti-fouling agent protecting the chitinized epithelium of the cuticle from colonization by deleterious epibionts.

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Acknowledgments

This research was supported by grant 0344360 from the National Science Foundation (to P.B.A.) and SFB 617 from the German Research Council (to M.L.). All of the experiments performed in this study comply with the current laws of the United States of America.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of California, One Shields Avenue, Davis, CA, 95616, USA

    John M. Harrington & Peter B. Armstrong

  2. Marine Biological Laboratory, Woods Hole, MA, 02543, USA

    John M. Harrington, Matthias Leippe & Peter B. Armstrong

  3. Zoological Institute of the University of Kiel, Olshausenstr. 40, 24098, Kiel, Germany

    Matthias Leippe

Authors
  1. John M. Harrington
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  2. Matthias Leippe
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  3. Peter B. Armstrong
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Correspondence to John M. Harrington.

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Communicated by U. Sommer.

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Harrington, J.M., Leippe, M. & Armstrong, P.B. Epithelial immunity in a marine invertebrate: a cytolytic activity from a cuticular secretion of the American horseshoe crab, Limulus polyphemus . Mar Biol 153, 1165–1171 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00227-007-0888-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00227-007-0888-5

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