Resumen

GARCIA, E.; RAMOS, R.  y  BASTIDAS, C.. Presence of cytochrome P₄₅₀ in the Caribbean corals Siderastrea siderea and Montastraea faveolata. Cienc. mar [online]. 2005, vol.31, n.1a, pp.23-30. ISSN 0185-3880.

Cytochrome P₄₅₀ was detected in the animal tissue of the scleractinian corals Siderastrea siderea and Montastraea faveolata collected from a reef site on the west coast of Venezuela. The concentration of P₄₅₀ in these species (0.4-2.1 nmol mg^-1 of microsomal protein) was similar to the levels found in other marine invertebrates, but higher than previously reported for other organisms of the phylum Cnidaria. Maximum P₄₅₀ content was detected in samples collected during the reproductive season of S. siderea. These results confirm the presence of a functional cytochrome P₄₅₀ in two coral species. Its usefulness as a biomarker for environmental monitoring has to be further investigated.

Palabras llave : Cytochrome P₄₅₀; coral reefs; cnidarians; scleractinians; biomarkers.

        · resumen en Español     · texto en Inglés     · Inglés ( pdf )