STRESS PROTEIN DYNAMICS IN THE GILLS OF ARSENIC-EXPOSED CLARIAS GARIEPINUS: A BIOMARKER EVALUATION

Arsenic contamination in aquatic ecosystems presents a significant environmental concern with fish serving as primary indicators of water quality and pollutants. This study aimed to evaluate the expression of stress proteins in the gills of Clarias gariepinus (African catfish) exposed to arsenic using these proteins as biomarkers for arsenic-induced oxidative stress. A short-term (96-hour) exposure to varying concentration of arsenic (1 mg/L, 5 mg/L and 10 mg/L) was conducted. Protein expression levels of HSP70 and HSP90 were assessed using SDS-PAGE .The results revealed significant dose dependent increases in the expression of these stress proteins indicating a strong cellular response to oxidative stress. Additionally, biomarkers of oxidative stress such as catalase and superoxide dismutase (SOD) showed enhanced activity in exposed fish reinforcing the notion that arsenic induces oxidative damage. The findings highlighted the utility of stress proteins and enzymes as effective biomarkers for assessing arsenic contamination in aquatic environments and emphasize the need for further research into the molecular mechanisms underlying arsenic toxicity in aquatic species.