TITLE:
Genetic and Metabolic Variability between Two Subspecies of Chamaeleo chamaeleon (Reptilia: Chamaeleonidae) in Egypt
AUTHORS:
Mohamed A. M. Kadry, Hanan R. H. Mohamad
KEYWORDS:
Electrophoreses, Physiological Ecology, Chamaeleonidae, Isoenzymes, Lipids, Proteins
JOURNAL NAME:
Advances in Bioscience and Biotechnology,
Vol.5 No.8,
July
21,
2014
ABSTRACT: The degree of variability between two subspecies of Chamaeleo
chamaeleon; C. chamaeleon chamaeleon inhabiting El-Dabaa
(MarsaMatrouh) and C. chamaeleon musae inhabiting El-Arish (North Sinai)
of Egypt was investigated in this study using polyacrylamide gel
electrophoreses for Lactate dehydrogenase (Ldh) and Alfa-esterase (α-Est)
isoenzymes. Total lipids and proteins of liver and muscle tissues in both
species were analyzed. Three Ldh isoforms were recorded for both
subspecies and the activity. Rate of flow (RF) of Ldh-1 seemed to be
higher in C. chamaeleon chamaeleon than in C. chamaeleon musae.
This high activity could be supported by the significant increase in the total
lipids and proteins in liver and muscle tissues of this species. It may thus be
reasonable to suppose that C. chamaeleon chamaeleon is more active,
energetic and adaptable in its habitat than C. chamaeleon musae. The α-Est showed four fractions in both subspecies. The null variations in the activity
of α-Ests in the studied tissue may indicate, to some extent, the safety
of the diet applied to both subspecies of chameleons.