GLYCOSIDASES AND SULFATASES FROM THE MARINE MOLLUSC APLYSIA CERVINA

ABSTRACT

Glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) are carbohydrates present in all organisms with tissue organization. Glycosidases and sulfatases are the enzymes involved in their degradation in vertebrates and invertebrates. The objective of this work was to identify the presence of these enzymes in different tissues of the mollusc Aplysia cervina. The mollusc was dissected, separating out the esophagus, liver, gizzard and muscle, which were homogenized separately. After centrifugation the supernatants (crude extracts) were fractionated with ammonium sulfate in the concentrations of 0-30% (F-I), 30-50% (FII) and 50-80% (FIII). The presence of the sulfatase,β-glucuronidase, β-D-N-acetilgalactosaminidase and α-glucosaminidase was identified in the crude extracts of all studied tissues. α-fucosidasewasnot found in the esophagus or in the crude extracts and F-I from gizzard, but was detected in the fractions from liver and muscle. Sulfatase was more active in F-III from liver and gizzard, demonstrating specific activity of the 3.0 and 4.8, respectively. α-glucosaminidase was more active in the F-III fraction from esophagus and muscle presenting 3.9 and 2.0 specifics activities, respectively. These results indicate the existence of catabolic activity on GAGs in these marine invertebrate.

KEY WORDS
Glycosaminoglycans; glycosidases; sulfatases; metabolism; invertebrates; Aplysia cervina