Abstract:
A significant variation in membrane fluidity, lipid composition, fatty acids profile and intra-extracellular ion concentrations of chloride cells was observed in the estuarine mud crab, Scylla serrata, when they were acclimated to 1 and 35 psu. About 60 percent decrease in Km and Vmax of Na+/K+-ATPase, Mg2+ ATPase and Ca2+ ATPase enzymes and 85 percent increase in the same was observed when the crabs were acclimated to 1 and 35 psu saline water, respectively. The changed membrane lipid bilayer composition and fluidity of the plasma membrane of chloride cell help in modulating activity of Na+/K+-ATPase and thus regulate the ionic composition of the cell during salinity adaptation.
