Ammoniagenesis in mudskippers Boleophthalmus boddaerti and Periophthalmodon schlosseri

1. Glutamate dehydrogenase, aspartate transaminase and alanine transaminase were present in the gill, liver and muscle tissues of Periophthalmodon schlosseri and Boleophthalmus boddaerti. Both transaminases were found in the cytosol and mitochondria. 2. A complete purine nucleotide cycle was not present in the tissues studied. 3. Glutamine synthetase was not detected. Phosphate-dependent glutaminase was detected in both the cytosol and mitochondria. 4. Aspartate was the major substrate of ammoniagenesis in the mudskippers, though glutamate and glutamine were also oxidised. 5. Transdeamination was the major pathway for ammoniagenesis in the mudskippers studied.