Enzymatic study of the crystalline style of two estuarine gastropods, Telescopium telescopium and Cerithedia obtusa of Indian Sundarbans

Enzymatic study of crystalline style of two bent hie gastropods, Telescopium telescopium and Ceritheclia obtusa collected from Chemaguri and Sagar Island region respectively during January, 2007 was undertaken. Crystalline style is a long, flexible rod-like, hyaline and usually colourless structure containing amylase and glycogenase, which are set free in the stomach. Amylase activity of the crystalline style was found to be 0.1041 mg maltose/ mg of total protein in case of Telescopium telescopium and 0.078 mg maltose/ mg of total protein in case of Cerithedia obtusa. In case of Telescopium telescopium, alkaline protecise activity was found 0.0105 mg tyrosine/ mg of total protein and acid protease activity was 0.00135 mg tyrosine/ mg of total protein. Pro­ tease was found to be absent in Cerithedia obtusa.