Cytochrome P450 Forms, Function and Regulation in Antarctic Fish Species

细胞色素P450蛋白的结构和功能特性及其调控将在一些南极鱼类中进行研究。这些蛋白质对许多激素、污染物和致癌物的代谢和生物作用至关重要。其中一些蛋白质是由污染物化学物质诱导的，是暴露的理想标记。将对几种P450蛋白的基因及其产物进行研究。碳氢化合物或多氯联苯诱导的P450和参与基因调控的受体将被表征。目的是确定膜结合酶的结构和功能适应，它们的基因调控和受体机制在低温适应动物。另外的目标是为评价外来化学品可能在南极鱼类中起作用的程度提供分子和机制基础。这些研究应该提供一个明确的基线和许多物种的档案样本，以便与未来的样本和分析结果进行比较。研究结果将对探测和跟踪南大洋化学品目前和未来的影响产生影响，并可能区分全球和/或南极当地来源的化学品。

The structural and functional properties of cytochrome P450 proteins and their regulation will be examined for a number of Antarctic fish species. These proteins are critical in the metabolism and biological action of many hormones, as well as pollutants and carcinogens. Some of these proteins are induced by pollutant chemicals and are ideal markers for exposure. The genes for several P450 proteins, and the gene products will be studied. The P450 that is induced by hydrocarbons or polychlorinated biphenyls and the receptors involved in the regulation of the gene will be characterized. The objectives are to identify structural and functional adaptions of membrane bound enzymes, their gene regulation and receptor mechanisms in stenothermal cold-adapted animals. Additional objectives are to provide a molecular and mechanistic basis for evaluating the degree to which foreign chemicals may be acting in Antarctic fish. These studies should provide a definitive baseline and archival samples of numerous species, against which results of future samples and analyses can be compared. The results will have implications for detecting and following the present and future effects of chemicals in the Southern Ocean and may distinguish between chemicals with global and/or local Antarctic sources.