Abstract :
Avian eggshell is compartmentalized and has structural stratification like cuticle and matrix. Of these
layers outer most layer is studied in this work to understand the nature of profiles generated by ninhydrin positive
proteins. Eggs of six species of domesticated birds of the order Galliformes categorized under five different families
were used for analysis. All the six egg species responded to ninhydrin producing Ruhemann’s purple colour of
varied profiles, indicated the taxonomic family-wise difference in profiles suggest the possibility of using this
technique for taxonomic considerations. The SDS-PAGE profile of water soluble proteins too showed greater
variations both in number and molecular weight in five species of birds but such proteins were totally missing in
Anas platyrhynchus, primarily a domesticated water bird. Total quantity of proteins estimated by Lowry’s method
too revealed quantitative difference among the six species. The significance and possible utility of these findings are
presented in study.
Keyword :
Bird, Avian egg, Cuticle, Shell surface, Ruhemann purple, Water soluble proteins, Maculation, Taxonomy