CYP1A expression in freshwater fish of western New York as an indicator of pollution levels

Various species of freshwater fish regulate the expression of certain proteins in response to environmental contamination. Previous research has shown that CYP1A expression increases in response to contaminant levels and can result in increased tumor formation. Fish in contaminated environments would thus benefit by downregulating the expression of CYP1A to reduce tumor prevalence as an adaptive strategy. Alternatively, monitoring of the CYP1A protein in fish can serve as a bioindicator of the pollution level of an environment. This study evaluated CYP1A expression in twelve different species of freshwater fish from seven bodies of water throughout western NY including Cuba Lake, Genesee River, Hanging Bog, Love Canal, Moss Lake, Rushford Lake and Tifft Nature Preserve. Western blot analysis was used to measure CYP1A expression as a marker of site pollution and potential fish population adaptation. It was hypothesized that low CYP1A expression at a site with known contamination wo...