| Abstract: | Purification of cytochromes P-450 from liver microsomes of β-naphthoflavone (BNF)-fed rainbow trout yielded three apparently homogeneous forms. The major form (LM4b)* appears to be a P-448 type of cytochrome. A minor form (LM4a), having properties very similar to LM4b, was also obtained. In addition, a P-450 form (LM2) was isolated, with properties quite different from LM4a or LM4b, including a high rate of aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) metabolism (Williams & Buhler, 1983c). Antibodies to all three forms were obtained from rabbits. The IgGs prepared against LM4a and LM4b both cross-reacted (forming lines of identity) equally well with both antigens on Ouchterlony plates. Rat P-448 cross-reacted (without lines of identity) with both LM4a- and LM4b-IgG. LM4b-IgG was much more effective than LM4a-IgG for inhibition of LM4a or LM4b reconstituted benzoa]pyrene (BP) hydroxylase, suggesting that these two antibodies recognize different antigenic sites. The LM2-IgG did not cross-react with any of the other rat or trout cytochromes P-450 examined. Levels of LM2 and LM4b in microsomes from untreated, polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB), phenobarbital (PB) or BNF-treated trout were estimated with an immunological technique involving electrophoresis on SDS-PAGE, followed by transfer to nitrocellulose and staining with either LM 2 - or LM4b -IgG. The ratio of
in microsomes from PCB- or BNF-treated rainbow trout was much higher than 1, whereas the reverse was true with microsomes from untreated rainbow trout. These results are consistent with previous observations (Vodicnik et al., 1982) that pretreatment with BNF induced the synthesis of a P-448 type cyytochrome, presumably responsible for the great increase in the metabolism and activation of BP seen in these fish. Conversely, pretreatment with PB did not affect the levels of either LM2 or LM4b. This specific immunological technique should make it possible to assay the levels of these P-450 and P-448 isozymes in various strains of rainbow trout and other species of fish. In addition, the effect of age, sex, diet and exposure to P-450 and P-448 inducers could be examined and, perhaps, utilized to predict the relative risk of certain populations to pollutants activated by these different isozymes. |
