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EFFECT OF METAL IONS ON ARGINASE FROM THE KIDNEY OF LOCAL GOAT (Capra aegagrus hircus)

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY

Arginase is an important enzyme in the urea cycle, which plays a critical role in nitrogen metabolism in mammals. This enzyme catalyzes the hydrolysis of arginine to ornithine and urea, which is a key step in the conversion of ammonia to urea in the liver and other tissues. Arginase is expressed in various tissues, including the liver, kidney, and brain, and its activity is tightly regulated by a number of factors, including pH, temperature, and substrate concentration (Takasaki et al., 2019). In addition, the activity of arginase can be modulated by various metal ions, which can either enhance or inhibit its activity (Fernandes et al., 2018).

Metal ions are essential cofactors for many enzymes and are involved in various biological processes. Copper, iron, magnesium, and zinc are four of the most common metal ions found in biological systems, and they are known to interact with a wide range of enzymes, including arginase (Dudev and Lim, 2014). These metal ions can influence the activity of enzymes by binding to specific sites on the enzyme and altering its conformation or catalytic activity (Gonzalez-Fernandez et al., 2020).

In recent years, there has been increasing interest in studying the effect of metal ions on the activity of arginase from different sources, including animals, plants, and microorganisms (Fernandes et al., 2018). Several studies have shown that metal ions can either enhance or inhibit the activity of arginase, depending on their concentration and the type of metal ion (Takasaki et al., 2019; Gonzalez-Fernandez et al., 2020). However, the effect of metal ions on arginase activity from the kidney of local goat (Capra aegagrus hircus) has not been extensively studied.

Local goats are an important source of meat, milk, and other products in many countries, including Pakistan, India, and Bangladesh (Kumar et al., 2021). However, there is limited information on the biochemistry and physiology of local goats, particularly with respect to nitrogen metabolism and urea cycle regulation. Therefore, studying the effect of metal ions on arginase activity in local goat kidney could provide important insights into the regulation of urea cycle and nitrogen metabolism in