Fish Antioxidant Enzyme Activity as Protein-Level Biomarkers of Ecological Stress in Tropical Eutrophic Wetlands: A Review
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Abstract
Eutrophication-related stressors, including low dissolved oxygen, nutrient enrichment, and harmful algal blooms, negatively affect the health and function of organisms, populations, and ecosystems, resulting in ecological stress. Aquatic life struggles to withstand such irregular and abrupt disruption to ecosystem homeostasis, leading to alteration in ecosystem metabolism(e.g., simplified food webs and shortened food chains), reduced nutrient uptake and utilization efficiency, hyperphosphorylation-induced cellular damage, and increased pathogen virulence. As a first line of defense against eutrophication stress, fish release antioxidant enzymes (AOEs) such as superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), glutathione reductase (GR), peroxidase (POD), acetylcholinesterase (AChE), and others from various body organs. These enzymes react with reactive oxygen species (ROS) produced during stress and convert them into less harmful compounds. Most studies indicate that SOD is the primary enzyme secreted in response to ammonia and nitrate toxicity in eutrophic water bodies. The liver is the main organ responsible for AOE release followed by the gills and brain. Maximum AOE activity is typically observed at 48–96 h of exposure to ammonia, nitrate, or microcystin contamination. Thus, species-specific AOE release mechanisms can reflect the nature and intensity of stressor impact and may serve as biomarkers of ecological stress in tropical eutrophic wetlands. These eco-remediation tools can help mitigate the effects of eutrophication and promote healthier aquatic environments for species to thrive and develop.
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