Effects of lead and some ions on the activity of Glutathione reductase in Gammarus pulex

Abstract

Gammarus pulex, a member of the Amphipoda, has been commonly used as a test organism in environmental toxicology in recent years. Glutathione reductase is an enzyme that is very important in effective detoxification of radicals causing hydrogen peroxide and radiation. In the detection of aquatic pollution, to determine of the Glutathione reductase activity is very important. In this study, the effect of the lead, a heavy metal, on the Glutathione reductase enzyme activity in Gammarus pulex, an aquatic amphipod, is investigated; Glutathione reductase was exposed to lead acetate EC50 concentrations, in order to get the changes of the Glutathione reductase activity after 4, 8, 16, 32, 64 and 96 hours. Different concentrations (1µM, 10µM, 50µM, 100µM and 500µM) of Cu+2, Mg+2, Zn+2 ions on the enzyme activity is analysed. And also, the optimum pH for this enzyme is observed and with the activity assay of different NADPH concentrations, Km is determined 129,03 µM.