OBSERVATIONS ON INTRASPECIFIC VARIATIONS IN THE LEVEL OF TOTAL PROTEINS AND AMINO ACIDS, TOTAL NON PROTEINS AND THEIR FRACTIONS WITH RESPECT TO MATURATION IN TH~ MUSCLES, HEPATOPANCREAS AND GONADS OF TWO CRUSTACEAN SPECIES PORTUNUS PELAGlCUS (L) AND PENAEUS KERATHURUS (I,). 1- TOTAL PROTEINS AND AMINO ACIDS.

OBSERVATIONS ON INTRASPECIFIC VARIATIONS IN THE LEVEL

OF TOTAL PROTEINS AND AMINO ACIDS, TOTAL NON PROTEINS

AND THEIR FRACTIONS WITH RESPECT TO MATURATION IN TH~

MUSCLES, HEPATOPANCREAS AND GONADS OF TWO CRUSTACEAN

SPECIES PORTUNUS PELAGlCUS (L) AND PENAEUS KERATHURUS (I,).

1- TOTAL PROTEINS AND AMINO ACIDS.

A.IV!. HILMY*. N.F. ABD EL-HAMllJ ** and K.S. GHAZALY*
* Department of zoology Faculty of Science. Alexandria University,
Alexandria Egypt.
**Institute of Oceanography and Fisheries. Alexandria. Egypt.
ABSTRACT
1- The total protein levels were generally low during
the immature stages, but increased rapidly reaching
their maximum in the mature ones. The high muscle
protein levels were associated with the period of
moulting and formation of new cuticle.
2- The fluctuations of the protein concentrations
observed in both the hepatopancreas and gonads of
the prawns and crabs studied may be interpreted
as’a’result Of’protein accumulation in ·the·
hepatopancreas during the intermoult and that such
stores are mobil ized to meet the demands of events
like moult and reproduction.
3- The quantitative amino acid composition of Portunus
pelagieus and Penaeus kerathurus muscles were found
to be ten ami no IIC i ds in compa rison with those of
the hepatopancreas and gonads (11 amino acids).
This new amino acid was detected and identified
as aspartic acid.