Xenobiotic metabolism by glutathione S-transferase in gill of fish from Arabian Gulf

The xenobiotic metabolizing ability of gill glutathione S-transferase in marine fish species inhabiting the Arabian gulf along the coast of the United Arab Emirates was evaluated. The species studied were Scolopsis bimaculatus (butterfly bream), Lethrinus mahsenoides (emperor) and Lutjanus fulviflamma (snapper). Attempts were made to characterize gill glutathione S-transferase from S. maculatus in detail by determining the enzyme kinetics, using 1-chloro-2,4-dinitrobenzene as substrate and the factors influencing the glutathione conjugation reaction. The gills of marine fish in the Arabian gulf appeared to play an important role in the detoxification of xenobiotics.