Purification of glutathione S-transferase enzyme from liver tissue of shabout (Barbus grypus Heckel) and investigation of the inhibition effect of some metal ions under in vitro conditions.

Shabout is a fish with high nutritional value and economic potential. This fish is exposed to environmental factors due to the metal toxicity in its habitat and, consequently, its diet. The main purpose of this study was to determine how the detoxification mechanism of shabout is affected by examining the interaction of glutathione s-transferase enzyme with heavy metals. In our study, elemental analysis was first performed with the ICP-OES on water samples taken from three different points to detect metal toxicity in the habitat of the shabout. Then, the GST enzyme from the liver tissue of the shabout was purified for the first time by our team using the glutathione agarose affinity chromatography technique. Finally, the inhibition effects of nitrate salts of some metal ions on the purified enzyme activity were investigated under in vitro conditions. It was determined that the water courses where the fish were sampled in our study were alarming in terms of heavy metal content. While shabout liver showed Fe³⁺ activation effect on GST enzyme under in vitro conditions, metal ions Na⁺, Zn²⁺, Co²⁺, Cu²⁺ and Pb²⁺ showed inhibition effects. The detected inhibition concentration range showed that the enzyme is quite resistant to the metal salts whose effects were examined. It was concluded that in the consumption of shabout, emphasized to be a nutritious fish, the heavy metal levels of the region where the fish is caught should be taken into account and catching should be made in water resources inspected by relevant experts.