title: Characterization of acetylcholinesterase in Hong Kong oyster (Crassostrea hongkongensis) from South China Sea.
abstract: Acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity has been used to evaluate the exposure of mollusk bivalves to organophosphates, carbamate pesticides, and heavy metals. Crassostrea hongkongensis is a Hong Kong endemic oyster, and has a high commercial value along the coastal area of South China. The use of this species as a bio-indicator of the marine environment, and the use of AChE activity measurements in tissues of C. hongkongensis require prior characterization of AChE in this species. Here, we report that gill tissue contains the highest AChE activity in C. hongkongensis, and that the molecular form of AChE is most likely to be a dimeric form. In addition, the effect of the pesticide acephate on AChE activity in the gill of C. hongkongensis was analyzed, and the mean inhibition concentration (IC50) value was determined. This study suggests that AChE activity in the gill tissue of C. hongkongensis might be used as a biomarker in monitoring organophosphate contamination in the marine fauna of South China.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Hanshan Normal University, Chaozhou, Guangdong Province, China.
authors.forename: Guangcai
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Zha
authors.forename: Vicky P
authors.initials: VP
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Wilson K W
authors.initials: WK
authors.lastname: Luk
authors.forename: Xianghui
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zou
authors.forename: Roy C Y
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: Karl W K
authors.initials: KW
authors.lastname: Tsim
mesh_terms: D000110:Acetylcholinesterase / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism; D002681:China; D002800:Cholinesterase Inhibitors / Q000633:toxicity; D049896:Crassostrea / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology*; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D005880:Gills / Q000201:enzymology; D006723:Hong Kong; D009946:Organothiophosphorus Compounds / Q000633:toxicity; D010575:Pesticides / Q000633:toxicity; D063088:Phosphoramides / Q000633:toxicity; D055503:Protein Multimerization; D014018:Tissue Distribution
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D002800:Cholinesterase Inhibitors; D009946:Organothiophosphorus Compounds; D010575:Pesticides; D063088:Phosphoramides; C001969:acephate; D000110:Acetylcholinesterase