EFFECTS OF NIACIN DEFICIENCY ON THE LEVELS OF SOLUBLE-PROTEINS AND ENZYME-ACTIVITIES IN VARIOUS TISSUES OF JAPANESE-QUAIL

The effects of niacin deficiency on the levels of soluble proteins and enzyme activities of Japanese quail have been investigated. SDS-polya crylamide gel electrophoresis revealed that in the pectoral muscle the soluble proteins with molecular masses corresponding to 181, 128, 93, 76, 72, 62, 56, 43, 41, 28 and 20 kDa were present in lower amounts b ut those of 60, 50 and 37 kDa were present in higher amounts. In the h eart the soluble proteins with a molecular mass of 181 kDa were presen t in lower amounts and in the brain those of 43 kDa were present in lo wer amounts but those of 221 kDa were present in higher amounts. In th e intestine the soluble proteins with molecular masses corresponding t o 181, 102, 83, 74, 72, 44 and 40 kDa were present in lower amounts bu t those of 41 kDa and 181 kDa were present in higher amounts. There wa s a marked reduction in the level of NAD and NADPH in the pectoral mus cle of niacin deficient quail but not ir. other tissues. The specific activity of glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase decreased markedl y both in the liver and pectoral muscle of niacin deficient quail wher eas that of 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase and malic enzyme decrease d markedly in the liver or pectoral muscle, respectively. In contrast, the specific activity of acetylcholinesterase and carboxypeptidase in creased markedly in the liver or the pectoral muscle, respectively. Th e results suggest that a severe niacin deficiency exerted specific eff ects on levels of some soluble proteins particularly in the pectoral m uscle and intestine and on activities of certain enzymes in the liver and the pectoral muscle. (C) 1998 Published by Elsevier Science Ltd. A ll rights reserved.