Preliminary Study of Catalase Enzyme Activity and Protein Concentrations in the Mediterranean and African Mussels, Mytilus galloprovincialis and Perna perna, Cohabiting on the Same Natural Coastal Site (Figuier, Boumerdes, Algeria)

Abstract

Biological monitoring has become one of the most widely used approaches in aquatic monitoring. As a result, the effect of the xenobiotics entrained by the organic and inorganic effluents on different aquatic species is therefore entirely distinct. The aim of this study is to assess and to compare changes in biological responses, as non-specified biomarkers, measured in the gills and adductor muscles of the Mediterranean and African mussels, Mytilus galloprovincialis (designated MG) and Perna perna (designated PP) coexisting on Algerian coastal sites (Figuier, W. Boumerdes, Algeria) during the Winter and Spring period (2015/2016). Catalase enzyme activity, total proteins, and condition index were measured in collected samples of two size classes (class1: [2–2.5 cm] and class2: [4.5–5.5 cm]). During the study period, the values of enzymatic activities were relatively higher in MG than in PP (January, class 2, MG: 46.9 U/mg proteins, PP: 39.1U/mg proteins). Additionally, the results obtained showed a slight disturbance of the metabolism in two species of the same size class which resulted in a remarkable increase of catalase activity in March (class 2, MG: 54.2 U/mg protein, PP: 49 U/mg protein) and in April (class 2, MG: 51.9 U/mg protein, PP: 44.8 U/mg protein) compared to the other months. During the study period, the total proteins revealed a variation nonspecific for the two species at various sizes. With regard to the results obtained, biological responses were completely different in the two species with various sizes that were exposed to the natural or anthropogenic changes. Seasonal specificity contributed considerably and differently to the stress of the two species. Moreover, the catalase enzyme activity and total proteins proved their effectiveness as nonspecific, relevant and sensitive biomarkers.