Analysis of the Henze precipitate from the blood cells of the ascidian Phallusia mammillata

Abstract

The Henze precipitate, a peculiar blue-green microparticulate obtained by lysis of the blood cells of the ascidian Phallusia mammillata (Protochordata), was investigated with atomic force microscopy (AFM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray microanalysis. The precipitate was collected from the Henze solution, an unstable red-brown product obtained by treating blood with distilled water, whose degradation yields a characteristic blue-green product. The microparticulates measured 50-100 micro m in diameter and appeared irregular in shape. SEM examination showed smooth, roughly round boundaries. The microparticulate surface examined with AFM appeared as an irregular matrix formed by 70-320-nm-wide mammillate composites, including and embedding small (500-800 nm wide) crystal-like multilayered formations. X- ray analysis showed that the elements present in these same precipitates were mainly C, Si, Al and O. The microparticulate composition appeared close to those of natural waxes or lacquers, embedding amorphous silicates and/or other Si-Al components. The unusual occurrence of Si in ascidian blood and its role are discussed.

Catecholamine Derivatives as Novel Crosslinkers for the Synthesis of Versatile Biopolymers

“…But as many investigators have noticed, they are extremely unstable and undergo facile oxidative polymerization. Lysis of the blood cells of tunicates leads to the production of a greenish black fluid, called Heinze precipitate, that frequently yields a dark and fibrous material [ 76 , 77 ]. Blood cells also contain phenoloxidase that readily oxidizes the tunichromes.…”