2.2. Sample preparation
The animals (1 g dry mass) were homogenised
separately in 1 ml of acetone, centrifuged at
4500=g for 5 min at 4 8C and suspended in
EDTV solution (40 mM EDTA, 10% NaCl, pH
7.0) . The carotenoprotein complexes were precipitated
with ammonium sulfate as outlined by
Zagalsky et al. (1970). The precipitate was again
centrifuged and dissolved in 0.05 M phosphate
buffer (pH 7.0). In the presence of phosphate
buffer, dialysis was performed overnight in a
refrigerator. Absorption maxima, prosthetic group
and amino acid compositions of the protein complex
were also analysed.