AMPHIBIAN SKIN SECRETIONS: A POTENTIAL SOURCE OF PROTEOLYTIC ENZYMES

Abstract

The aim of the work was to study the protein content and proteolytic activity of the skin glands secretions of 10 the most common types of amphibians on the territory of Ukraine such as B. bombina, B. variegata, B. bufo, B. viridis, R. temporaria, P. ridibundus, P. esculentus, P. fuscus, S. salamandra, as well as the hybrid of B. bombina and B. variegata species. It was shown that the skin secretions of the studied amphibians contained a wide range of proteins with a molecular weight in the range from 8 to 150 kDa. By enzyme electrophoresis using gelatin, fibrinogen and collagen as substrates, it was found that they contained proteinases that differ in substrate specificity. It was revealed that the skin glands secretions of B. bombina, S. salamander species, as well as the hybrid of B. bombina and B. variegata species were characterized by he increased protein content with gelatinase and collagen activity.

Keywords

• amphibians
• skin gland secretions
• proteolytic activity.