Biochemical Studies on Pearl. IX. Amino Acid Composition of Conchiolin in Pearl and Shell

Abstract

Conchiolin, a kind of screloprotein, was isolated from the pearl and the shell of the pearl oysters. The amino acid composition of con-chiolin was determined by the chromatographic method with the starch column. Relatively large amounts of leucines, alanine, glycine and cystine were found in conchiolin. Remarkable differences were found in the contents of phenylalanine, alanine and proline between conchiolin from the nacreous substance and that from the prismatic substance.

Amino acid composition of aragonitic concholin in the shell of Arctica islandica

“…Calcified protein material in molluscs may consist of several protein components which may be differently organized within the shell microstructures (Crenshaw 1972;Nakahara et al 1980;GrCgoire et al 1955;Tanaka et a / . 1960).…”

Pearl Powder—An Emerging Material for Biomedical Applications: A Review

“…Nacre lipids were found to facilitate the reconstitution of intercellular content of the stratum corneum and could be responsible for the signalling action activated for treating atopic dermatitis. The beneficial effect of pearl powder may come from conchiolin, a protein made of 17 amino acids [ 48 ]. In the beauty world, it is claimed that conchiolin hydrates the skin and rebuilds collagen.…”

Biology of the Integument

“…The nacreous layer conchiolins from pelecypods and cephalopods are rich in glycine, alanine, and aspartic acid (Florkin 1966, Bevelander and Nakahara 1975, Nakahara et al 1982. Conchiolin contains varying amounts of several proteins and polysaccharides (Gregoire et al 1955, Tanaka et al 1960, Voss-Foucart 1968) and any differences in the amino acid composition found between shell layer types are less than the variations in the composition between taxonomic groups (Gregoire 1972, Crenshaw 1982. Conchiolin contains varying amounts of several proteins and polysaccharides (Gregoire et al 1955, Tanaka et al 1960, Voss-Foucart 1968) and any differences in the amino acid composition found between shell layer types are less than the variations in the composition between taxonomic groups (Gregoire 1972, Crenshaw 1982.…”