JOURNAL DE PHYSIQUE IV

Some preliminary SAXS measurements have been carried out on four different extracellular invertebrate dioxygen carriers. The validity of the procedure has been tested on arthropod hemocyanin: the radii of gyration deduced from SAXS spectra agree with those calculated from the dimensions of the structure determined by X-ray crystallography. The radii of gyration of Spirographis spallanzanii chlorocruorin agrees with values deduced from 3D structures obtained with Electron Microscopy. The radius of gyration and the radius of gyration of the cross section of Octopus vulgaris hemocyanin are compatible with a ring structure, as deduced from investigations made by Electron Microscopy. 1