Megathura crenulata

Megathura crenulata
Megathura crenulata on the right, and the warty sea cucumber Parastichopus parvimensis on the left
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Mollusca
Class: Gastropoda
(unranked): clade Vetigastropoda
Superfamily: Fissurelloidea
Family: Fissurellidae
Genus: Megathura
Species: M. crenulata
Binomial name
Megathura crenulata
G. B. Sowerby I, 1825
Living specimen of Megathura crenulata with mantle extended over much of its shell.

Megathura crenulata, common name the great keyhole limpet or giant keyhole limpet, is a northeast Pacific species of limpet in the family Fissurellidae.[1] Megathura is a monotypic genus, in other words, this is the only species in that genus.

Description

These keyhole limpets are large, growing up to 60–132 mm (2.4–5.2 in), and unusually have a shell largely concealed in the tough fleshy mantle.[2]

Distribution

They are native to rocky coasts of Southern California, United States to Baja California, Mexico and are found at shallow depths below the low tide line.[3]

Keyhole limpet hemocyanin

Keyhole limpet hemocyanin from Megathura crenulata is used as vaccine carrier protein. Keyhole Limpet hemocyanin, or KLH, is a copper containing respiratory protein, similar to hemoglobin in humans. KLH is a large protein that acts as the hapten carrier part of the vaccine component, and is so far thought to be non-toxic. The major potential use of KLH is for bladder carcinoma by stimulating a specific immune response, but there are many other medical uses such as stress assessment, understanding inflammatory conditions, and treating drug addition. Vaccines and other KLH uses are in the research or trial phases. A liter of blood from a keyhole limpet will produce 20 grams of protein, which can be worth as much as $100,000.[4][5][6]

References

  1. ↑ Rosenberg, G. (2012). Megathura crenulata (Sowerby I, 1825). Accessed through: World Register of Marine Species at http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=527885 on 2013-01-17
  2. ↑ Megathura crenulata
  3. ↑ Megathura crenulata
  4. ↑ "Keyhole limpet hemocyanin (KLH): a biomedical review" 30 (6). December 1999. pp. 597–623. PMID 10544506.
  5. ↑ http://spectrum.ieee.org/podcast/biomedical/devices/harvesting-blood-from-limpets-for-a-cancer-vaccine. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  6. ↑ http://www.popsci.com/science/article/2011-11/how-mollusk-blood-could-cause-cancer. Missing or empty |title= (help)

External links

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