ISSN 2736-1756
Advanced Journal of Microbiology Research ISSN 2241-9837 Vol. 12 (11), pp. 001-004, November, 2018. © International Scholars Journals
Full Length Research Paper
The distribution of cyanide detoxifying enzymes in different species of the family Cichlidae
Okonji Raphael Emuebie1*, Popoola Michael Olaoluwa2, Kuku Adenike1 and Aladesanmi Omolara Titilayo1
1Department of Biochemistry, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun State, Nigeria.
2Department of Zoology, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun State, Nigeria.
Accepted 11 June, 2018
Abstract
The cyanide metabolising enzymes (rhodanese and mercaptopyruvate sulphurtransferase) were estimated in different tissues of three species of tilapia (Tilapia zilli, Sarotherodon galileus, and Oreochromis niloticus) from two locations (Aiba and Osinmo reservoirs, both in the South-Western region of Nigeria). The enzyme activities were carried out by measuring the amount of thiocyanate produced by the two enzymes using specific substrates in each case. There was no significant difference in the activity of rhodanese in the tissues of the tilapia species from Aiba River. Mercaptopyruvate sulphurtransferase (3-MST) presented a different pattern of distribution with significant difference in the gut of the tilapia species. The study showed the activities of two cyanide detoxifying enzymes (rhodanese and mercaptopyruvate sulphurtransferase) in the different tilapia species indicating the presence of strong cyanide detoxifying mechanisms.
Key words: Rhodanese, mercaptopyruvate sulphurtransferase, cyanide, tilapia, detoxification.