The distribution of ammonia-generating enzymes along the intestine of the earthworm,Lumbricus terrestris L

✍ Scribed by Tillinghast, Edward K. ;MacDonnell, Paul C.

• Publisher: John Wiley and Sons
• Year: 1973
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 347 KB
• Volume: 185
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0022-104X
• DOI: 10.1002/jez.1401850203

✦ Synopsis

Abstract

The linear distribution of ammonia‐generating enzymes (L‐serine dehydratase and 5′‐AMP deaminase) along the gut of Lumbricus has been examined using that of the digestive enzymes as a frame of reference.

This study confirms the observations of earlier workers indicating a high activity of digestive enzymes in the anterior region of the gut with declining activity toward the posterior.

5′‐AMP deaminase has a distribution paralleling that of the digestive enzymes. In contrast, L‐serine dehydratase is exclusively confined to the hindgut. It appears, therefore, that two potential centers for ammonia production exist in this species.