NADPH: Phenanthrenequinone oxidoreductase in channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus)

The toxicity of certain polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons has been related to the phenomenon of oxidative stress. Recent studies in our laboratory have demonstrated that 9,10-phenanthrenequinone (PQ) is an efficient redox cycling agent in cytosols of several organs of the channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus). Stomach cytosol demonstrated a high level of dicoumarol-sensitive PQ reduction which was at least tenfold greater than that seen in kidney, liver or gill. In the presence of stomach cytosol, PQ stimulated production of Superoxide union in-vitro at rates several fold higher than did menadione, a model redox active quinone. The active component from stomach cytosol has been purified, and is termed NADPH: phenanthrenequinone oxidoreductase, which the authors believe represents a novel quinone-reducing enzyme in this species.