Abstract
Polyacrylamide gel electrophoreses for malate dehydrogenase (Mdh) and beta-esterase (β-Est) isoenzymes were conducted for biochemical differentiation between two Stenodactylus gekkonid species inhabiting North Sinai of Egypt. Total lipids and proteins of liver and muscle tissues in both species were also analyzed. A total of three Mdh isoforms were recorded in the analysis, in which the activity of Mdh-2 and Mdh-3 seemed to be higher in S. petrii than in S. sthenodactylus. This high activity could be supported by the significant increase in the total lipids and proteins in liver and muscle tissues of the species. It may thus be reasonable to suppose that S. petrii is more active, energetic and adaptable in the desert habitat than S. sthenodactylus. β-Est showed six fractions in S. petrii and only one fraction in S. sthenodactylus. It is therefore noticeable that β-Est is more highly expressed in S. petrii than in S. sthenodactylus.
Highlights
Gekkonidae are among the lizards known for their striking range of morphological characteristics, ecological habitats and body sizes
A total of three malate dehydrogenase (Mdh) isoforms were recorded in the analysis, in which the activity of Mdh-2 and Mdh-3 seemed to be higher in S. petrii than in S. sthenodactylus
The activity of Mdh-2 and Mdh-3 isoforms seemed to be higher in S. petrii than in S. sthenodactylus
Summary
Gekkonidae are among the lizards known for their striking range of morphological characteristics, ecological habitats and body sizes. Malate dehydrogenase (Mdh) is considered as one of the most extensively studied isozyme systems [21]. This enzyme with lactate dehydrogenase constitutes a very suitable system for studying several metabolic, genetic, ecological features, and they are very useful in systematic studies. Mdh is well known for the many cell compartment-specific isoenzymes that characterize various organisms. The cytosolic Mdh, known as NADP-malic enzyme (ME), catalyzes the NADP dependent oxidative decarboxylation of malate into pyruvate and carbon dioxide to generate NADPH. The present study aims to investigate the patterns of the interspecific biochemical variations between two common gekkonid species (S. petrii and S. sthenodactylus) inhabiting the Sinai desert of Egypt
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
