Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase of Biomphalaria glabrata (Say , 1818) (Mollusca: Pulmonata). Characterization and...

Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase of Biomphalaria glabrata has been characterized by electrophoresis, kinetic properties and inheritance pattern. It exists as a single electrophoretic band with no polymorphism in the natural population studied during the present investigations. There are no organ-specific differences in electrophoretic pattern. The enzyme from the homogenates of various organs e.g., albumen gland, digestive gland, ovotestis and columellar muscle show similar physico-chemical parameters, such as optima for pH, NADP and glucose-6-phosphate. Incorporation of NADP is essential for maintaining the stability of the enzyme, failing which, there appear artifactual variations in electrophoretic mobility of the enzyme. The apparent lack of polymorphism in natural population of Biomphalaria glabrata has been discussed.