Preliminary Studies on the Mucus Secretion of the Wood Wasp, Sirex Noctilio F. I. Physicochemical and Biochemical Properties

Abstract

The major component of S. noctilio mucus appears to be a protein-polysaccharide complex with probable molecular weight in the range 60000-100000. In aqueous solution the macromolecule undergoes slow spontaneous disaggregation to yield dialysable subunits of molecular weight 2000-6000 which retain all the physiological activity of the whole mucus. More rapid disaggregation is brought about by treatment of solutions with moderate concentrations of NaC!, KCI or CaCI2 , or by heating. The native mucus contains amylase, esterase, phenoloxidase and proteolytic enzyme activities, and it is suggested that these enzymes may be responsible, at least in part, for the 'natural' disaggregation process.