What are hemocyanines?

Hemocyanins are respiratory proteins that are used to transport oxygen in molluscs and crustaceans, as well as in some insects. They have an analogous function with hemoglobin found in vertebrate blood. Hemoglobin and hemocyanins are metaloproteins or proteins that include metal ion, but hemocyanins include copper rather than iron and are not bound to blood cells. Instead, they float freely in hemolymps, circulatory fluid of crustaceans and Mollucs. These proteins have been studied for their therapeutic benefits, including use as potential cancer treatment. In particular, molluscs rely on a group of invertebrates, which include clams, limpes, snails, octopus and related species. These proteins also use horseshoes, lobsters, crabs and other arthropods, as well as certain insects.

for crustaceans and molluscs who live in a cold, low-acidic aquatic environment, hemocyanins are more effective than hemoglobin as a method of oxygen transport. As a free floating protein, hemocyanine can exist ingreater density in hemolymphs than hemoglobin, which must be contained in cells. Increased density of respiratory proteins allows the body to “pick up” more oxygen, which is useful in an environment with low oxygen content.

The disadvantage of high concentration of hemolyanine in hemolymphs is that it increases the viscosity of respiratory fluid, making it difficult to circulate the fluid around the body. For this reason, hemocyanin is best advantageous for organisms that spend less energy on movement, such as slowly moving crabs and molluscs. In terrestrial environments with different environmental conditions, hemoglobin is a more effective oxygen transport protein. Several insects that do have haemocyanines are maintained as predecessors - evolutionary delay in earlier times - than as a functional advantage.

Hemocyaninine metaloprotein consists chemically of two copper atoms linked to the diatomical molecule of oxygen - molesuly containing two oxygen atoms. When copper binds to oxygen to transfer it throughout the hemolymph, it becomes oxygenated and changes color and changes blue. This color change is responsible for blue-violet color, which can be observed in some crabs and lobsters.

Research has shown that hemocyanines of certain molluscs may have healing applications. Hemolymph Concholepas Concholepas , also known as the Chilean Abalon, contains respiratory proteins that have been shown to reduce bladder tumors in mice. Limpet key holes, megathura crrenulata , provides hemokyanin limpe key holes (KLH), which is cleaned for use in biotechnology. Specifically, KLH is used as an authier protein for antibodies. It can also be useful as part of cancer vaccines.