Effect of Quinphos Toxicity on Electrophoretic Patterns of Proteins in Gill and Muscle of Oreochromis niloticus

Abstract

Quinalphos is an organophosphorous pesticide widely used in agriculture. This Pesticide entered into the aquatic system and create pollution, which pose a great threat to aquatic organisms.The aim of the study was carried out to determine the effect of Quinalphos on electrophoretic patterns of proteins in the gill and muscle of Oreochromis niloticus. Lethal concentration(LC50) of quinalphos for Oreochromis niloticushas been calculated by probit analysis.In the present study fish were exposed to the 1/2th,1/5th and 1/10th of 96h LC50 value for a period of 15 and 30 days. The changes in the tissue proteins of vital organs such as gill and muscle were examined on SDS –PAGE.The electrophoretogramof 15th and 30th day exposure represents the decrease in the intensity ofgill and muscle protein bands compared to control due toquinalphos toxicity. In the present study, the reason for the loss of protein bands are expected to be due to the damage caused by the binding of quinalphos with the proteins and the protein synthetic machinery, affecting adversely the anabolic reactions. The biochemical studies like electrophoreticestimation of protein are very important in assessing thepesticide-induced stress in fish. The marked reduction in the protein fractions,is a good indicator, which might help, in the earlydetectionof pollution by pesticides.