Further observations on enterochlorophyll, and allied pigments / by C.A. Mac Munn.

  • MacMunn, Charles Alexander, 1852-1911.
Date:
1886
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Further observations on enterochlorophyll, and allied pigments / by C.A. Mac Munn. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The Royal College of Surgeons of England. The original may be consulted at The Royal College of Surgeons of England.

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    spectra can it be inferred that he knew he was dealing with a true chlorophyll. In my paper, already referred to,* * * § I had shown enterochlorophyl] to be present in Ostrcea, Mytilus, Oardium, Anodonta, Unio, Octopus, Buccinum, Fusus, Purpura, Littorina, Helix aspersa, Helix pomatia, Helix citrina, Arion, and Limax among Mollusca. In Homarus, Cancer, Carcinus, Pagurus, and Astacus among Arthropoda. In Ur aster, Asterias, and Echinus among Echinodermata. A chlorophyll band is seen in Krukenberg’s drawings! of the alcohol extracts of the “livers” of Grapsus marmo- ratus, Carcinus mcenas, Pilumnus villosus, Ervphia spinifrons, Homarus vulgaris, Buthus occitanus, Tethys fimbria, Pleurobranchus, Eledone moschata, Aplysia depilans, and Mytilus edulis. It is satisfactory to know that Krukenberg has come to the conclusion that his “ hepatochromates ” are animal pigments, and his evidence is of the more value in this case as he has made a great number of observations on animal colouring matters. As I have gained more experience in the examination of solutions since my last paper was communicated, I may have to describe in this the spectra of some already referred to, especially as differences are sometimes seen when a great number of the same species is examined ; this remark applies more especially to starfishes, in which the chlorophyll obtained from the radial coeca shows certain differences with regard to the dominant band, which, in my opinion, establish beyond all doubt the animal origin of the pigment. Besides, with the large spectroscope obtained with the grant allowed me by the Royal Society, I am able to measure more accurately the wave- lengths of the bands than I could before. | The consideration of the spectra of solutions of vegetable chlorophyll should naturally precede that of those of animal chlorophyll, but it will be deferred for convenience until I come to describe the results of saponification. Mollusca. Paludina vivipera.—In a deep layer of the rectified spirit extract § of the “liver” of this species the three bands shown in spectrum 4, Chart I., are seen, and in a thinner layer another band between green and blue. The solution was a deep-yellow colour and fluoresced red. Its first three bands read approximately :—1st, \ 678 to A 656 ; 2nd, A 620 to A. 600; 3rd, A 552 to \ 539. With nitric acid the change already described, and to be referred to below, took place. Hence the enterochlorophyll present differs in no respect from that of other mollusca. * Loc. cit. t “ Vergleichend-physiologische Studien,” 3te Abth. 1880. Taf. 1. Krukenberg, too, arrived at the same conclusion as myself, namely, that various pigments are prepared in the liver for use elsewhere (S. 189), especially for the integument. + The bands in blue and violet are most difficult to measure, and if with even better instruments they are found to differ from my measurements the fault, I hope, will not be attributed to inaccuracy. § Of course this and all the following extracts were filtered before examination.