Tissue-specific isoenzyme variations in Arabian camel, &amp;lt;i&amp;gt;Camelus dromedaries&amp;lt;/i&amp;gt;

Mohammed S Al-Harbi,Sayed A M Amer

doi:10.4236/abb.2012.37107

Abstract

Malate dehydrogenase, α-esterase and β-esterase isoenzymes have been analyzed by native polyacryla-mide gel electrophoresis in different tissues (liver, kidney, muscle and hump) of the Arabian Camel, Camelus dromedaries in order to study the tissue specificity of these isoenzymes. Malate dehy-drogenase recorded three fractions while both este-rases recorded two fractions in different studied tissues. Malate dehydrogenase was considered as a key isoenzyme in discriminating among the different studied tissues. The percentage amount of both Mdh-1 and Mdh-2 showed significant difference among the different tissues while Mdh-3 recorded significant variation between muscle and hump tissues. The significant variation in the amount of Mdh isoenzyme (on the level of either total or fractions) among the different studied tissues may reflect the role of this enzyme for energy production in this desert animal. With respect to esterases, the percentage amount for both fractions and the total enzyme did not show significant difference among different tissues except β-Est-2 which was significantly higher in hump than in muscle. This enzyme showed higher thickness and intensity in both liver and kidney than in the muscle and hump indicating its greater activity in both liver and kidney.

Highlights

The dromedary (Camelus dromedarius), called Arabian camel or one humped camel, was domesticated some 5000 years ago in the Arabian Peninsula
Α-esterase and β-esterase isoenzymes have been analyzed by native polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis in different tissues of the Arabian Camel, Camelus dromedaries in order to study the tissue specificity of these isoenzymes
The total population of dromedary is estimated to be around 1.6 million camels within the Arabian Peninsula constituting 51% of the total tropical livestock unit in Saudi Arabia

Summary

INTRODUCTION

The dromedary (Camelus dromedarius), called Arabian camel or one humped camel, was domesticated some 5000 years ago in the Arabian Peninsula. The total population of dromedary is estimated to be around 1.6 million camels within the Arabian Peninsula constituting 51% of the total tropical livestock unit in Saudi Arabia. It is economically very important for milk and meat production which was mainly linked to the population growth [2]. Electrophoretic studies were done extensively on the different tissues of various animals from which it reveals that the enzyme exit in multi molecular forms and functions [14]. The present study aimed to investigate the patterns of variations of malate dehydrogenase and esterases (α and β) isoenzymes in different tissues of the Arabian camel that has been used for milk and meat production

Sample Preparation and Isoenzyme Assay

Gel Fixation

Statistics

Malate Dehydrogenase

Esterases