Abstract

During the 1986/87 summer season the level of detoxication enzyme glutathione-s-transferase was tested in antarctic fish species Pagothenia borchgrevinki and Dissostichus mawsoni. The enzymes were tested using a variety of substrates including the lipid peroxide cumene hydroperoxide. These measurements will be used to calculate base levels of enzyme activity. The enzymes of antarctic fish have appreciable activity with 1-chloro-2, 4-dinitrobenzene and cumene hydroperoxide but very low activity with 2,4-dichloro-1-nitrobenzene and 0-nitrobenzly chloride. Frozen samples of antarctic fish liver were taken for further purification and study at Victoria University. This will be compared and combined with research from the 1983/84 season and with other temperate comparative species to help ellucidate the role of these enzymes.