Unusual extraction of α-actinin from the adductor muscles of bivalve molluscs

1. 1. In contrast to rabbit skeletal muscle α-actinin, which is extracted only by low ionic strength solutions, scallop α-actinin has been extracted in a wide range of ionic strength and its relative content is maximal in physiological ionic strength solutions. 2. 2. The yield of α-actinin from scallop myofibrils sharply increases in the presence of NaHCO 3 which may be used for isolation of α-actinin from molluscs muscles. 3. 3. NaHCO 3 -solution completely removes α-actinin from scallop myofibrils, although α-actinin from rabbit skeletal muscles has not been extracted by NaHCO 3 . 4. 4. It is suggested that these differences are connected with structural differences in the Z-line of cross-striated muscles of scallop and rabbit.