Tissue Specific Esterase Isozyme Variation in Ocellated Pufferfish, Tetraodon cutcutia

Abstract

Variation in the expression of esterase isozymes was studied from twenty different tissues of Tetraodon cutcutia on 7.5% polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE) stained with a and b naphthyl acetates. A variant type of allelic expressions was observed in different tissues where altogether, five esterase bands (Est-1, Est-2, Est-3, Est-4 and Est-5) were detected. Est-4 showed the highest frequency (95%) whereas Est-3 was found to be lowest (30%). Localization of esterase isozymes were also observed in different tissues that showed tissue specific isozyme variation. Tissues that were related to digestive system (liver, intestine) showed higher allelic variation (80%). All the bands were present only in eye tissue. One the other hand, only one band (Est-4) was present in anterior_ and mid_muscle. Est-3 was absent in digestive, nerve and muscle tissues but was present in skin, fin, eye and adipose tissues.