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BENZO(A)PYRENE METABOLISM IN THE AMERICA OYSTER 'CRASSOSTREA VIRGINICA'
Citation:
Anderson, R. BENZO(A)PYRENE METABOLISM IN THE AMERICA OYSTER 'CRASSOSTREA VIRGINICA'. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, D.C., EPA/600/3-78/009 (NTIS PB277390), 1977.
Description:
The research program was initiated with the overall objective of determining the role of NADPH-dependent microsomal mono-oxygenase in the metabolism of the widespread environmental carcinogen benzo(a)pyrene (BP) by the oyster Crassostrea virginica. This enzyme system is important in detoxifying various xenobiotics and in activating polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon oncogens as BP. A sensitive radioisotopic system was developed to permit the quantification of alkali-soluble and water-soluble BP metabolites produced by oyster mono-oxygenase. An NADPH-and O2-dependent aryl hydrocarbon hydroxylase (AHH) was shown to be located in the digestive glands of these bivalves associated with the microsomal subcellular fraction. The specific activity of oyster AHH was considerably lower than that of laboratory mice, but was consistently demonstrable. The BP metabolites produced were primarily water-soluble derivatives. There was some indication that oyster AHH was induced by chronic exposure of the animals to the environmental carcinogens BP and 3-methyl-cholanthrene. There was strong evidence that exposure to polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB) caused AHH induction.