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Development of a free β‐galactosidase in vitro test for the assessment of heavy metal toxicity
Author(s) -
Apartin Carina,
Ronco Alicia
Publication year - 2001
Publication title -
environmental toxicology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.813
H-Index - 77
eISSN - 1522-7278
pISSN - 1520-4081
DOI - 10.1002/tox.1014
Subject(s) - chemistry , bioassay , pentachlorophenol , environmental chemistry , toxicity , metal , metal toxicity , phenol , chromatography , nuclear chemistry , heavy metals , biology , organic chemistry , ecology
The effect of heavy metals and organic compounds on the activity of the enzyme β‐galactosidase in a standardized bioassay has been evaluated, considering future applications in environmental monitoring. The tests were done using a commercial extract of a hydrolase from the eukaryote yeast Kluyveromyces lactis and o‐nitrophenyl‐β‐D‐galactopyranoside (ONPG) as substrate. The enzyme was exposed to Cr(VI), Cd(II), Cu(II), Ni(II), Pb(II), Hg(II), phenol, sodium dodecyl sulfate, methanol and pentachlorophenol for 5, 15, 30, and 60 min. According to the results, a 15 min exposure time was considered optimum for the performance of the assay. Results of tests with metals showed IC 50 values ranging between 9.25mg/L for Cd(II) and 0.015mg/L for Hg(II), with an order of sensitivity of: Cd(II)