Checkpoint protein bioassays for detecting genotoxicants in water

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Accurate monitoring of water quality is of primary importance in protecting aquatic ecosystems. With the intensification human activities, such as manufacturing, agriculture, and the growth of municipalities, the risk of increased levels of carcinogen contamination in Canadian rivers and lakes is rising. We propose to develop a rapid test to screen water samples by using antibodies that recognize checkpoint proteins. Checkpoint proteins act as a defense mechanism to preserve genome integrity, and their levels are known to increase quickly when DNA damage occurs. By exposing fish cells to water from potentially contaminated sites, we can monitor the extent to which checkpoint protein levels rise as a consequence of the presence of such carcinogens. This technology will allow for highly sensitive and efficient screening of water samples, and will greatly aid in identifying the most vulnerable aquatic ecosystems, and the best measures to protect them.