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.

Whole-genome resequencing provides insights into the diversity and adaptation to desert environment in Xinjiang Mongolian cattle

“…Among these families, the CYP2J2 activity has been demonstrated to be regulated by high-salt diet [29]. It is noteworthy that in camel whose most distinctive feature is the adaptation to the desert environment, the number of the copies of CYP2J is higher than that in cattle, horse and human [30][31][32]. The above ndings indicate that CYP2J subfamily genes may be important factors in the adaptation of Xinjiang Mongolian cattle to the desert environment.…”

Whole-genome resequencing provides insights into the diversity and adaptation to desert environment in Xinjiang Mongolian cattle

“…Among these families, the CYP2J2 activity has been demonstrated to be regulated by high-salt diet and its suppression could result in hypertension [ 43 ]. It is noteworthy that in camel whose most distinctive feature is the adaptation to the desert environment, the number of the copies of CYP2J is higher than that in cattle, horse and human [ 14 – 16 ]. In fact, other members of cytochrome P450 family were also selected in other species in desert regions [ 44 , 45 ].…”

“…Furthermore, in the context of adaptation to desert environments, the genetic mechanisms of camels have been extensively studied. Comparative genomic analyses have revealed the camel’s genetic adaptations to desert environments, including metabolic pathways such as water and salt metabolism, insulin resistance, oxidative stress responses, and osmoregulation [ 14 – 17 ], etc. Additionally, genomic studies of other desert-dwelling mammals have implicated genes related to regulation of thyroid levels [ 18 ], immune defense [ 19 ], response to radiation [ 20 ], body size [ 21 ].…”

Evaluation of local expressions of acute phase proteins in white muscle disease in lambs by the immunohistochemical method

“…Pathomorfologically, it manifests with degeneration, paleness, fibrosis, necrosis and calcification in the heart muscle [2,3,4]. WMD is usually seen in kids (Capra aegagrus hircus), lambs (Ovis aries), calves (Bos taurus) and camels (Camelus) [5,6,7]. WMD shows a global incidence of around 1%.…”