A peroxisomal proliferator-activated receptor gene from the marine flatfish, the plaice (Pleuronectes platessa)

Recently we have shown that glutathione S-transferase (GST) genes from a marine flatfish, plaice, are up-regulated after administration of peroxisome proliferators (PPs), and the products of these genes are efficient in the conjugation of some of the end-products of lipid peroxidation. The promoters of these genes contain sequence elements identical to peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR)-response elements in mammals, thus linking the control of lipid metabolism with mechanisms for detoxifying peroxidised lipids. Since widespread chemical contaminants such as industrial plasticisers and pesticides are PPs, the regulation of genes which might be involved in detoxifying the effects of these chemicals is of great interest. In order to further study the regulation of these GST genes we have isolated a plaice PPAR gene and here we describe its structure and initial characterisation. The role of PPs in regulating plaice GST genes which are involved in the detoxification of peroxidised lipids will also be discussed.