OXIDATIVE ENZYMES IN THE THORACIC MUSCLES OF THE WOODROACH LEUCOPHAEA MADERAE

Abstract

The thoracic muscle of the wood-roach, L. maderae. was shown to contain high concns. of succinoxidase and cytochrome oxidase and a low concn. of fatty acid oxidase as compared to rat liver. The conditions required for optimum activity of the succinoxidase system were detd. and it was found that this system requires 4 times the concn. of succinate as does succinoxidase of rat liver. Succinoxidase activity of thoracic pigmented muscle in the woodroach is essentially the same in both sexes, whereas in the American cockroach. Periplaneta americana, the activity is 3 times as great in the muscle of the male as in that of the female. The succinoxidase activity of woodroach thoracic muscle increases with increase in the age of the roach. The results of studies with cofactors, inhibitors and the brilliant cresyl blue system indicate that the mechanism of action of the succinoxidase of woodroach muscle is similar to that of mammalian tissues.