Tissue-specific isoenzyme variations in Arabian camel, Camelus dromedaries

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.