Event Title
Characterization of Serum Phospholipase A2 Activity in Three Species of West African Crocodiles
Faculty Mentor
Mark Merchant
Location
Memorial Gym
Start Date
20-4-2012 2:30 PM
End Date
20-4-2012 3:30 PM
Description
Phospholipase A2 (PLA2), an enzyme that exhibits immunological activity, was measured in the serum of three species of diverse West African crocodiles. Incubation of different volumes of serum with bacteria labeled with a fluorescent fatty acid in membrane lipids, resulted in titer-dependent activity. The Nile crocodile (Crocodylus niloticus) exhibited slightly higher activity than the slender-snouted crocodile (Mecistops cataphractus) and the African dwarf crocodile (Osteolaeumus tetraspis). Product formation was inhibited by p-bromophenacyl bromide, a specific PLA2 inhibitor, and kinetic analysis showed that C. niloticus serum produced product more rapidly than M. cataphractus or O. tetraspis. Serum from all three crocodilians exhibited temperature-dependent activities, but with slightly different thermal profiles.
Characterization of Serum Phospholipase A2 Activity in Three Species of West African Crocodiles
Memorial Gym
Phospholipase A2 (PLA2), an enzyme that exhibits immunological activity, was measured in the serum of three species of diverse West African crocodiles. Incubation of different volumes of serum with bacteria labeled with a fluorescent fatty acid in membrane lipids, resulted in titer-dependent activity. The Nile crocodile (Crocodylus niloticus) exhibited slightly higher activity than the slender-snouted crocodile (Mecistops cataphractus) and the African dwarf crocodile (Osteolaeumus tetraspis). Product formation was inhibited by p-bromophenacyl bromide, a specific PLA2 inhibitor, and kinetic analysis showed that C. niloticus serum produced product more rapidly than M. cataphractus or O. tetraspis. Serum from all three crocodilians exhibited temperature-dependent activities, but with slightly different thermal profiles.