Parvalbumins as a biomarker for fish species identification: applications to snook (Centropomus undecimalis) preservation

Parvalbumins are highly stable Ca/sup 2+/ binding proteins found predominantly in the skeletal muscles of vertebrates. The properties of these proteins make them an ideal candidate for use as a specific biomarker for fish identification. Parvalbumins were initially purified from white muscle of the fish species Centropomus undecimalis using ammonium sulfate precipitation and gel filtration. The heterogeneity of the parvalbumins was typified by their separation into 7 isotypes. A dilution endpoint immunoassay was developed for snook parvalbumin using a monoclonal antibody directed against its highly conserved calcium binding site. The utility of specific monoclonal antibodies against fish parvalbumin with regards to species identification is discussed.