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Characterization of carboxylesterase in skin mucus of Cirrhinus mrigala and its assessment as biomarker of organophosphate exposure

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Abstract

Presence of carboxylesterase (CbE) activity in the skin mucus of Cirrhinus mrigala was investigated. CbE activity in skin mucus showed higher substrate preference for α-naphthyl acetate over p-nitrophenyl acetate. Four CbE isozymes—CbE-1, CbE-2, CbE-3, and CbE-4 were observed in skin mucus during zymography. The isozyme CbE-4 was characterized as typical serine esterase, whereas CbE-1, CbE-2, and CbE-3 were identified as sulphhydryl group-dependent serine esterases. In vitro treatment of skin mucus with the organophosphorus insecticide, Nuvan® showed strong inhibition of CbE activity. In vivo exposure of the fish to sublethal test concentrations (5 and 15 mg/l) of the insecticide also revealed significant inhibition of CbE activity in mucus. After the cessation of exposure, CbE activity recovered to its control level during the recovery periods. Thus, CbE activity in skin mucus could be considered a biomarker of the organophosphorus insecticide exposure to fish and a useful tool in monitoring environmental toxicity.

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Acknowledgments

Ashwini Kumar Nigam was supported as Junior Research Fellow and then as Senior Research Fellow under the CSIR-NET Fellowship Scheme, Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, Government of India. Usha Kumari is supported as Senior Research Associate sponsored by the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, Government of India.

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  1. Ajay Kumar Mittal

    Present address: , 9, Mani Nagar, Kandawa, Near Chitaipur Crossing, Varanasi, 221 106, India

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Skin Physiology Laboratory, Centre of Advanced Study, Department of Zoology, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, 221 005, India

    Ashwini Kumar Nigam, Usha Kumari, Swati Mittal & Ajay Kumar Mittal

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  1. Ashwini Kumar Nigam
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Correspondence to Swati Mittal.

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Nigam, A.K., Kumari, U., Mittal, S. et al. Characterization of carboxylesterase in skin mucus of Cirrhinus mrigala and its assessment as biomarker of organophosphate exposure. Fish Physiol Biochem 40, 635–644 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10695-013-9872-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10695-013-9872-9

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