Investigation of the lack of cytochrome P450 1A1 gene expression in paddlefish (Polyodon spathula)

CHED 1101

Bob C. Fitzmorris, fitz8186@pacificu.edu, Chemistry Department, Pacific University, 2043 College Way, Forest Grove, OR 97116, Deke T. Gundersen, gund1090@pacificu.edu, Department of Environmental Science, Pacific University, 2043 College Way, Forest Grove, OR 97116, and Lisa Sardinia, sardinil@pacificu.edu, Biology Department, Pacific University, 2043 College Way, Forest Grove, OR 97116.
Paddlefish are a long-lived primitive fish species with a cartilaginous skeleton, inhabiting the Mississippi River drainage. Previous work in our laboratory indicated that PCB-contaminated paddlefish collected from the Ohio River did not have measurable hepatic microsomal EROD activity. In addition, we were unable to detect CYP1A1 protein in these paddlefish in a western blotting analysis using rabbit anti-trout CYP1A1 (LM4b) IgG antibody. The objective of this study was to investigate the lack of CYP1A1 expression in paddlefish. Using primers derived from the first and last exons of rainbow trout CYP1A1 gene, the polymerase chain reaction was used to amplify trout, sturgeon and paddlefish genomic DNA. PCR products of the correct size were generated for each species. Our results indicate that the paddlefish genome contains the CYP1A1 gene, but the previous evidence would suggest that it is not being expressed. Currently we are trying to detect the presence of the Ah-receptor necessary for promoting CYP1A1 production.
 

Undergraduate Research Poster Session: Environmental Chemistry
2:00 PM-4:00 PM, Monday, April 7, 2008 Morial Convention Center -- Hall A, Poster

Division of Chemical Education

The 235th ACS National Meeting, New Orleans, LA, April 6-10, 2008