Biomarkers of Catalase, Glutathione S-transferase and EROD in Echinometra mathaei exposed to PAHs in northern Persian Gulf

Abstract

The Persian Gulf is a semi-enclosed sea with special ecological conditions, where oil pollution average is higher than the minimum optimum level by the global marine environment. Echinoderms are one of the most important marine phyla of this ecosystem, which are more exposed to pollutions in sediments because they live on the bottom. Many biomarkers are able to identify the adverse effects of chemical environmental pollutants. The present study is endeavored to study the Catalase, Glutathione S-transferase and EROD response change of Echinometra mathaei collected from northern Persian Gulf. Sampling was carried out at T-wharf Khark, north Khark, Nai-Band, Shirino, Owli and Shaghab beach of Bushehr stations and the levels of enzymes were measured in the cold and warm seasons. The maximum and minimum Catalase activity among all stations and in both seasons were obtained in Shirino (1.95 µmol/min/mg protein) and Bushehr (0.98 µmol/min/mg protein). The highest and lowest enzyme activity levels of Glutathione-S-Transferase activity were obtained in Khark T-wharf (9.30 nmol/min/mg protein) and Naiband (6.63 nmol/min/mg protein). The maximum and minimum activity of EROD enzyme was measured in Khark T-wharf (0.04 µmol/min/mg protein) and Bushehr (0.002 µmol/min/mg protein). In total, no significant difference (P < 0.05) was observed regarding the relationship between enzymes and organisms available to PAH in different seasons. The results indicated the possible lack of response of the biomarkers present in this sea urchins, which is probably caused by a different immune system or the duration of exposure to pollution in these areas.