Camel Proteins and Enzymes: A Growing Resource for Functional Evolution and Environmental Adaptation

Abstract

In less agroecological parts of the Asian, Arabian, and African deserts, Camelus dromedarius play an important role in human survival. For many years, camels have been employed as a source of food, a tool of transportation, and a means of defense. They are becoming increasingly important as viable livestock animals in many desert climates. With the help of camel genetics, genomics and proteomics known so far, this review article will summarize camel enzymes and proteins, which allow them to thrive under varied harsh environmental situations. An in-depth study of the dromedary genome revealed the existence of protein-coding and fast-developing genes that govern a variety of metabolic responses including lipid and protein metabolism, glucoamylase, flavin-containing monooxygenase and guanidinoacetate methyltransferase are other metabolic enzymes found in the small intestine, liver, pancreas, and spleen. In addition, we will discuss the handling of common medications by camel liver cytochrome p 450, which are different from human enzymes. Moreover, camels developed several paths to get optimum levels of trace elements like copper, zinc, selenium, etc., which have key importance in their body for normal regulation of metabolic events. Insulin tolerance, carbohydrate and energy metabolism, xenobiotics metabolizing enzymes, vimentin functions, behavior during the rutting season, resistance to starvation and changes in blood composition and resistance to water loss were among the attractive aspects of camel enzymes and proteins peculiarities in the camels. Resolving the enigma of the method of adaptation and the molecular processes linked with camel life is still a developing repository full of mysteries that need additional exploration.

Keywords: adaptation; camel; enzymes; metabolism; proteins.

Figure 1

Water loss and osmoregulation in camels.

Figure 2

Camel CYP450. The compound 19(S)-HETE is a powerful vasodilator of renal preglomerular arteries that promotes water absorption. There is a higher number of copies of CYP2J and CYP2E and a lower number of copies for CYP4A and CYP4F.

Figure 3

The importance of vimentin in the regulation of fat and glucose metabolism in camels as well as the conventional cytoskeleton formation.

Figure 4

The potential mechanisms of insulin resistance in camels.