ABSTRACT
Cytochrome P-450-dependent monooxygenases play a major role in the biotransformation or metabolism of myriad organic xenobiotics, such as pesticides, hydrocarbons, chlorinated hydrocarbons, and numerous biological molecules, including steroid hormones. A full understanding of cytochrome P-450 monooxygenase systems and their role in pollutant effects will depend on understanding their regulation in fish or other groups of animals, which in turn requires knowledge or specific forms or isozymes or cytochrome P-450. A compilation of data on these latter enzymes in marine species appears in M. O. James. Values for kidney and gill represent data obtained with tissues pooled from more than 20 fish. Immunochemical analysis of cytochromes P-450 structure and function is a very fruitful area of research. Specific antibodies can be used to analyze structure, function, and regulation of cytochrome P-450 isozymes. The identity and quantity of cytochrome P-450 determined optically were subsequently confirmed by electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy.
