Studies on egg shells. VIII.—The determination of membrane-, pore- and matrix-protein—a reassessment

✍ Scribed by C. Tyler; K. Simkiss

• Publisher: John Wiley and Sons
• Year: 1958
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 512 KB
• Volume: 9
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0022-5142
• DOI: 10.1002/jsfa.2740090610

✦ Synopsis

Abstract

The first paper in this series suggested methods for determining membrane‐, pore‐ and matrix‐protein in egg shells. Further studies by means of histochemical methods and by the etching of plastic‐embedded specimens have shown that the method for membrane protein is sound. On the other hand, although the true shell contains nitrogen fractions, one of which is soluble in 10% sodium hydroxide and the other not, the allocation of the names ‘pore’ and ‘matrix’ protein respectively to these fractions is wrong. The alkali treatment removes the mammillary cores, the cuticle and part of the matrix of the spongy layer. Further, the organic matter of the shell contains acid mucopolysaccharide as well as protein. It is, therefore, recommended that the terms ‘pore’ and ‘matrix’ protein should be replaced respectively by the terms ‘soluble’ and ‘insoluble’ nitrogen fraction.