Petroleum hydrocarbons biotransformations

Skubal K. L., Barcelona M. J., and Adriaens P. (2001) An assessment of natural biotransformation of petroleum hydrocarbons and chlorinated solvents at an aquifer plume transect. J. Contamin. Hydrol. 49(1-2), 151-169. 

Van der Plas AJ, Voogt PA (1983) Histochemical observations on the pyloric caeca of Asterias rubens (Echinodermata, Asteroidea) in relation to the reproductive cycle. J Morphol 178 179-186 Van Dyke RA, Baker MT, Jansson I, Schenkman J (1988) Reductive metabolism of halothane by purified cytochrome P-450. Biochem Pharmacol 37 2357-2361 Varanasi U, Malins DC (1977) Metabolism of petroleum hydrocarbons accumulation and biotransformation in marine organisms. In Malins DC (ed) Effects of petroleum on arctic and subarctic marine environments and organisms, Vol 2 Biological effects. Academic Press, New York, pp 175-270... 

Excretion of the electrophilic intermediates as conjugated derivatives has been well identified in terrestial mammals as well as in marine species. All marine species investigated are able to conjugate the oxide intermediates to GSH-derivatives (Bend etaL, 1977). Generally, invertebrates show lower activity than vertebrates. In addition, wide variation in glutathione-S-transferase activity has been observed beween species and substrates used. Reasonable experimental evidence now exists for the enzyme-mediated biotransformation of petroleum hydrocarbons in several marine fish and invertebrate species. 

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