Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase and malic enzyme in the normal and regenerating tail of the scincid lizard, Mabuya carinata.

Abstract

The histochemical localization of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PDH) and malic enzyme was carried out in the normal and regenerating tail of the scincid lizard, Mabuya carinata. The two enzymes follow an identical and parallel pattern of distribution, with the activity of G6PDH being perceptibly higher than that of malic enzyme. In the normal tail, the enzymes were poorly localized except for G6PDH activity in the skin. An increase in activity of both G6PDH and malic enzyme was noticed during early phases of regeneration of the tail with the peak value being attained during the blastemic and differentiation phases. Possible involvement of G6PDH in the synthesis of lipids and nucleic acids and that of malic enzyme in reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH2) yield is discussed. With the completion of regeneration, the levels of both enzymes return to normal levels.