experimentally infected with Streptococcus pyogenes . Growth inhibition of 

 a penicillin-resistant strain of Staphylococcus aureus was noted. When 

 paolin II and Fraction C were used to treat monkey kidney tissue 24 hr prior 

 to infection 99.9% inhibition of poliovirus and influenza A virus growth was 

 obtained. Fraction C protected mice against experimentally induced 

 infections of poliovirus and influenza B virus. Similar growth inhibition 

 was obtained in tissue culture experiments against Herpes simplex , keratitis 

 virus, adenovirus type 12, and tobacco mosaic virus. Crude extracts of 

 paolins have not shown apparent toxicity. Mercenene is a water-soluble, 

 heat-stable, poorly dialyzable glycopeptide with molecular weight 1,000 to 

 2,000. Activity varies with temp. Summer clam tissue extracts are 8 or 9 

 times as active as winter clam tissue extracts. Antitumor activity is shown 

 against Krebs-2-carcinoma, Krebs-2-ascites , and sarcoma 180, even when 

 administered several days after tumor implantation. Carcinolytic activity 

 against a human HeLa cell line in vitro also has been noted. Mercenene had 

 no effect on growth of normal human amnion cell line, and was apparently 

 nontoxic in mice at therapeutic levels. - J.L.M. 



465 



Der Marderosian, Ara H. 1970. 



Drugs from the sea - An overview. In Food-Drugs from the Sea, Proceedings 

 1969. Heber W. Youngken, Jr. (edj . Mar. Tech. Soc, Washington, D.C., p. 

 211-253. 



This review paper discusses mollusks, among other plants and animals. 

 Papers cited on Mercenaria (Venus) mercenaria are reviewed elsewhere in this 

 bibliography. The extensive list of literature cited contains 367 references. 

 - J.L.M. 



466 



De Villafranca, George W., and V. Ena Haines. 1974. 



Paramyosin from arthropod cross-striated muscle. Comp. Biochem. Physiol. 

 47 (IB) : 9-26. 



Paramyosin prepared from adductor muscle of Mercenaria mercenaria was compared 

 with similar preparations from muscle of Limulus polyphemus . It was concluded 

 that Limulus paramyosin has a larger chain weight for the following reasons: 

 paracrystals of Limulus had an average period of 726 A, Mercenaria 723 A; 

 intrinsic viscosity of Limulus paramyosin 2.38 dl/g, Mercenaria 1.99 dl/g; 

 sedimentation coefficients (S20°w) 4.07 Limulus, 3.40 Mercenaria; molecular 

 weights 284,000 Daltons for Limulus, 208,000 Daltons Mercenaria. SDS disc-gel 

 electrophoresis of the 2 paramyosins previously incubated in 8 M urea also 

 gave a larger chain weight for Limulus paramyosin. Tropomyosin was also 

 identified in Limulus , so that the idea that paramyosin is "invertebrate 

 tropomyosin" cannot be supported. This implies that paramyosin must have a 

 function of its own. It may be a "catch muscle" protein. - modified authors' 

 abstract - J.L.M. 



467 



Dewling, R. T. , K. H. Walker, and F. T. Brezenski. 1972. 



Effects of pollution: Loss of an $18 million/year shellf ishery. In Marine 

 Pollution and Sea Life. M. Ruivo (ed.) . Fishing News (Books) Ltd., p. 553-559. 



In the early 19th century, Raritan Bay (in N.J. and N.Y.) supported pro- 

 ductive fin- and shellf isheries. Water pollution was a factor in the 

 decline of fisheries in the Bay. Present commercial shellfish production is 

 limited to Mercenaria mercenaria and Callineates sapidus. The standing crop 

 of hard clams could provide an annual harvest worth $3.85 million (at 1971 

 or 1972 prices) if water quality were suitable. The present harvest is 

 worth only $40,000. Bacteria from more than 900x106 gal/day of unchlorinated 

 and raw municipal wastes from a population of 3.8xl0 6 persons enter the Bay. 

 Nearly 75% of total wastes come from industry. Included are substances with 

 high oxygen demand and various toxic materials. Other wastes come from 

 cooling waters, recreational and commercial vessels, and overflows from 

 combined storm-sanitary sewer systems. The most valuable shellfish industry 

 in the Bay, the oyster industry, is gone. Soft clams survive in some areas. 



130 



