Cytochrome P450 1 enzymes in black rockfish, Sebastes schlegelii: Molecular characterization and expression patterns after exposure to benzo[a]pyrene.

In this study, we cloned four new CYP1 genes, CYP1A, CYP1B, CYP1C1, and CYP1C2, from black rockfish (Sebastes schlegelii), a dominant and economically important fish species in Korea. This species is at a significant risk of exposure to petrohydrocarbons, such as benzo[a]pyrene(B[a]P), due to frequent oil spills along the Korean coast. Quantitative PCR analysis of CYP1 gene transcription in 12 organs of the fish revealed tissue-specific expression patterns. CYP1A was significantly expressed in the liver, heart, kidneys, and muscle, and CYP1B was significantly expressed in the gills, muscle, and heart. CYP1C1 and CYP1C2 showed similar tissue expression patterns, with the highest levels in the muscle. Furthermore, exposure to an aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR) agonist, B[a]P, at 2, 20, and 200 mg/kg body weight showed significant dysregulation of the CYP1A, CYP1B, CYP1C1, and CYP1C2 expression levels in the gills, liver, kidneys, and spleen. The mRNA expression levels of CYP1A and CYP1B were upregulated by 450- and 17-fold, respectively, in the spleen. Compared with their levels in the control, CYP1C1 increased by 45-fold, while CYP1C2 remained unchanged in the gills, indicating differential effects of the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon on CYP1 expression in different fish organs. The results suggested that expression profiles of inducible CYP1 enzymes in S. schlegelii might be used as indicators for assessing aquatic contamination by AHR agonists. Determination of the basal a...
Source: Aquatic Toxicology - Category: Toxicology Authors: Tags: Aquat Toxicol Source Type: research