Set of enzymatic bioassays for assessment of soil pollution

Abstract

A concept of the comprehensive assessment of soil contamination is proposed. In this concept, the conclusion regarding the presence of toxic substances in a sample, which is being analyzed, is connected with the inhibition of enzymatic reactions that are responsible for various functions of a live organism, such as luminescence, respiration, etc., these functions are taken as test functions in classical bioassays, which are using live objects (luminous bacteria, daphnia, algae, etc.). The regularities of the impact of different classes of toxicants on the activity of individual enzymes or coupled oligo-enzyme chains have been established. These enzyme reactions are selected as potential test objects - markers of pollution. The set of enzymatic bioassays consists of three enzyme systems with maximum sensitivity to different classes of toxicants: butyrylcholinesterase, NAD(P)H:FMN‑oxidoreductase + luciferase and lactate dehydrogenase + NAD(P)H:FMN‑oxidoreductase + luciferase. The possibility of using enzymes instead of living organisms in the bioassay of natural complex systems is shown.