Activities of aspartate (E.C. 2.6.1.1) and alanine (E.C.. 2.6.1.2) transaminases, and alkaline phosphatase (E.C. 3.1.3.1) in human erythrocytes of different genotypes

Abstract

The activities of aspartate (E.C. 2.6.1.1) and alanine (E.C. 2.6.1.2) transaminases (AST and ALT, respectively), and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) (E.C. 3.1.3.1) were determined in erythrocytes obtained from 20 HbAA, 15 HbAS and 12 HbSS human subjects. The results showed that the three enzymes had different levels of activity in these genotypes. The mean ( + SD) activity levels of the enzymes, expressed in U/g Hb, obtained for HbAA, HbAS and HbSS samples were: 6.75 + 0.99, 7.48 + 1.19 and 13.37 + 1.78 for AST; 4.26 + 0.24, 4.33 + 0.44 and 7.24 + 1.49 for ALT; and, 69.24 + 8.94, 64.26 + 9.17 and 48.49 + 4.35 for ALP. However, the activity levels of the different enzymes in HbAA were not significantly different (p>0.05) from that observed in HbAS erythrocytes. The activity levels of AST and ALT in HbSS erythrocytes were significantly higher (p<0.05) than that for HbAA erythrocytes. ALP showed significantly lower activity level (p<0.05) in HbSS than HbAS erythrocytes. There was no significant effect (p>0.05) of sex on the activity levels of the enzymes. These findings have far-reaching implications for the biochemical roles of these enzymes in the metabolism of the erythrocytes from the different genotypes studied.


Key words: transaminases, phosphatase, erythrocyte, genotypes, pyridoxal


[Global Jnl Pure & Appl. Sci. Vol.9(3) 2003: 365-368]