Different Responses of Plant Growth and Antioxidant System to the Combination of Cadmium and Heat Stress in Transgenic and Non-transgenic Rice

A comparative study of just cadmium (Cd) or heat and their combination treatments on some physiological parameters and the antioxidant systems in transgenic rice (Oryza sativa L. cv. Zhonghua No.11) carrying glutathione-S-transferase (GST, EC. 2.5.1.18) and catalase1(CAT1, EC. 1.11.1.6) and non-transgenics was conducted. The results revealed improved resistance in the transgenics to Cd and the combined Cd and heat stress than non-transgenics. Data showed that the activities of CAT, GST, superoxide dismutase (EC.1.15.1.1) and all components of the ascorbate-glutathione cycle measured in the stressed transgenics shoots are significantly different from those of non-transgenics. Results indicated that co-expression of GST and CAT1 had an important effect on the antioxidant system, in particular, the whole ascorbate-glutathione cycle. The less oxidative damage induced by Cd and the stress combination in the transgenics resulted not only from the GST and CAT1 transgene but also from the coordination of the whole ascorbate-glutathione cycle.     

转GST和CAT1基因水稻根系抗氧化系统对干旱高温胁迫的响应(英文)

以携带谷胱甘肽转移酶(GST)和过氧化氢酶(CAT1)的转基因水稻和非转基因水稻(Oryza sativa L.) 品种'中花11'的根系为材料, 比较分析了二者在PEG 6000、38℃及PEG 6000和38℃复合胁迫下抗氧化系统特别是抗坏血酸-谷胱甘肽循环系统的变化.结果显示, 6% PEG处理时,转基因水稻的CAT、GST、超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)、谷胱甘肽还原酶(GR)和脱氢抗坏血酸还原酶(DHAR)的活性都显著高于非转基因水稻;38℃处理时,前者的CAT、GST、SOD和GR的活性则显著低于后者;6% PEG和38℃复合处理时,前者的CAT、GST、抗坏血酸过氧化物酶(APX)和DHAR的活性也都显著高于后者,但前者的SOD和GR活性则显著低于后者.6%PEG 诱导的转基因水稻根系的抗坏血酸氧还状态显著低于非转基因水稻,但二者的谷胱甘肽氧还状态无显著差异; 而6% PEG和38℃同时处理时,转基因水稻的谷胱甘肽氧还状态则显著高于非转基因水稻,但二者的抗坏血酸氧还状态差异不显著.研究发现,干旱和高温复合胁迫时,转基因水稻和非转基因水稻的抗氧化组分的变化均不等于这2种单一胁迫的叠加;GST和CAT1基因的转入对水稻抗氧化系统内源功能相关组分尤其是抗坏血酸-谷胱甘肽循环系统产生了一定的影响,两种水稻的根系可能利用不同的抗氧化组分调节机制对这些胁迫做出应答.     

Modified responses of root growth and reactive oxygen species-scavenging system to combined salt and heat stress in transgenic rice

Root growth and modifications of ROS-scavenging systems were investigated in transgenic rice (Oryza sativa L., cv. Zhonghua no. 11) co-expressing glutathione-S-transferase (GST, EC. 2.5.1.18) and catalase 1 (CAT1, EC 1.11.1.6) and nontransgenic rice exposed to just salt or heat and their combination. The higher number of adventitious roots but the lower root to shoot ratio were observed in the stressed transgenics as compared with nontransgenics. Most antioxidant enzymes, such as CAT, GST, ascorbate peroxidase (APX, EC 1.11.1.11), glutathione reductase (GR, EC.1.6.4.2), dehydroascorbate reductase (DHAR, EC.1.8.5.1), and the redox state of glutathione and ascorbate, measured in the transformant roots, were significantly different from those in nontransformant roots following the three types of stress. The variations of root growth and antioxidant systems in the stressed transgenic rice may be attributed to not only the GST and CAT1 transgenes but also the coordination of the ascorbate-glutathione cycle.     

Salt and paraquat stress tolerance results from co-expression of the Suaeda salsa glutathione S-transferase and catalase in transgenic rice

GST (Glutathione S-transferase, EC 2.5.1.18) and CAT (Catalase, EC 1.11.1.6) play important roles in oxidative stress resistance. In this study, we transferred both GST and CAT1 of Suaeda salsa into rice (Oryza sativa cv. Zhonghua No.11) by Agrobacterium tumefaciens-mediated transformation under the control of cauliflower mosaic virus (CaMV) 35S promoter, and investigated whether co-expressing the GST and CAT1 in transgenic rice could reduce oxidative damage. Salt and paraquat stresses were applied. The data showed that co-expression of the GST and CAT1 resulted in greater increase of CAT and SOD (Superoxide Dismutase, EC 1.15.1.1) activity in the transgenics compared to non-transgenics following both stress imposition. Whereas the significant increase of GST activity in transgenics only occurred in paraquat stressed plants. While the generation of H₂O₂, Malon dialdehyde and plasma membrane relative electrolyte leakage decreased in the transgenics than in non-transgenics under the same conditions. Moreover, the transgenic rice seedlings showed markedly enhanced tolerance to salt stress compared with non-transgenics upon 200 mM NaCl treatment in greenhouse. The enhancement of the active oxygen-scavenging system that led to increased oxidative stress protection in GST + CAT1-transgenic rice plants could result not only from increased GST and CAT activity but also from the combined increase in SOD activity.     

干旱高温胁迫下转基因水稻的生理变化

用PEG-6000、38℃及PEG-6000+38℃胁迫处理携带谷胱甘肽转移酶(GST)和过氧化氢酶(CAT1)的转基因水稻和非转基因水稻(Oryza sativa L.cv中花11), 并比较分析了二者在胁迫下的生理指标和抗氧化酶活性变化.结果显示,在单一PEG及PEG和高温复合胁迫下,植株生长、光合参数和相对含水量的降低幅度及H2O2和MDA(malon dialdehyde)的积累量在非转基因水稻与转基因水稻之间都有显著差异.在这2种胁迫下,转基因水稻的可溶性糖含量及CAT和POD (Peroxidase) 活性与非转基因水稻也有显著差异.这些结果表明,谷胱甘肽转移酶(GST)和过氧化氢酶(CAT1)的表达减轻了转基因水稻在单一干旱及干旱+高温复合胁迫下的伤害.     

Accumulation and oxidative stress biomarkers in Japanese flounder larvae and juveniles under chronic cadmium exposure

This study investigated how Cd exposure affected oxidative biomarkers in Japanese flounder, Paralichthys olivaceus, at early life stages (ELS). Fish were exposed to waterborne Cd (0–48 µg L^− 1) from embryonic to juvenile stages for 80 days. Growth, Cd accumulation, activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD, EC 1.15.1.1), catalase (CAT, EC 1.11.1.6), glutathione S-transferase (GST, EC 2.5.1.18), and levels of glutathione (GSH) and lipid peroxidation (LPO) were investigated at three developmental stages. Flounder growth decreased and Cd accumulation increased with increasing Cd concentration. In metamorphosing larvae, CAT and SOD activities were inhibited and GSH level was elevated, while LPO was enhanced by increasing Cd concentrations. CAT and GST activities of settling larvae were inhibited but GSH level was elevated at high Cd concentrations. In juveniles, SOD activity and LPO level were increased but GST activity was inhibited as Cd concentration increased. Antioxidants in flounder at ELS were able to develop ductile responses to defend against oxidative stress, but LPO fatally occurred due to Cd exposure. These biochemical parameters could be used as effective oxidative biomarkers for evaluating Cd contamination and toxicity in marine environments: CAT, SOD, GSH, and LPO for metamorphosing stage; CAT, GSH, and GST for settling stage; and SOD, GST, and LPO for juvenile stage.     

Fungal pathogen-induced changes in the antioxidant systems of leaf peroxisomes from infected tomato plants

Peroxisomes, being one of the main organelles where reactive oxygen species (ROS) are both generated and detoxified, have been suggested to be instrumental in redox-mediated plant cell defence against oxidative stress. We studied the involvement of tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) leaf peroxisomes in defence response to oxidative stress generated upon Botrytis cinerea Pers. infection. The peroxisomal antioxidant potential expressed as superoxide dismutase (SOD, EC 1.15.1.1), catalase (CAT, EC 1.11.1.6) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px, EC 1.11.1.19) as well as the ascorbate-glutathione (AA-GSH) cycle activities was monitored. The initial infection-induced increase in SOD, CAT and GSH-Px indicating antioxidant defence activation was followed by a progressive inhibition concomitant with disease symptom development. Likewise, the activities of AA-GSH cycle enzymes: ascorbate peroxidase (APX, EC 1.11.1.11), monodehydroascorbate reductase (MDHAR, EC 1.6.5.4), dehydroascorbate reductase (DHAR, EC 1.8.5.1) and glutathione reductase (GR, EC 1.6.4.2) as well as ascorbate and glutathione concentrations and redox ratios were significantly decreased. However, the rate and timing of these events differed. Our results indicate that B. cinerea triggers significant changes in the peroxisomal antioxidant system leading to a collapse of the protective mechanism at advanced stage of infection. These changes appear to be partly the effect of pathogen-promoted leaf senescence.     

镉对长江华溪蟹肝胰腺抗氧化酶活力的影响

重金属对环境的污染已成为全球面临的首要问题之一,其中镉(Cd2 )是一种广泛存在的毒性污染物,能通过消化道和呼吸道进入生物体,对机体造成损伤(Zyadah and Abdel-Baky,2000)。研究表明,Cd2 可以通过Ca2 通道穿过细胞膜进入机体(Roesijadi and Robinson,1994),诱导产生大量自由基和活性氧(ROS),从而形成氧胁迫(Toppi andGabbrielli,1994;Hegedus et al.,2001)。ROS可以与体内脂质、蛋白质和核酸反应,导致脂质过氧化、细胞膜损伤并且影响多种酶的活力,对生物体造成威胁。由于在水生生态系统中生物富集污染物的作用明显,故相对于陆地生…     

Time‐course analysis of salicylic acid effects on ROS regulation and antioxidant defense in roots of hulled and hulless barley under combined stress of drought,heat and salinity

Greater crop losses can result from simultaneous exposure to a combination of drought, heat and salinity in the field. Salicylic acid (SA), a phenolic phytohormone, can affect a range of physiological and biochemical processes in plants and significantly impacts their resistance to these abiotic stresses. Despite numerous reports involving the positive effects of SA by applying each abiotic stress separately, the mechanism of SA‐mediated adaptation to combined stresses remains elusive. This study, via a time‐course analysis, investigated the role of SA on the roots of hulled and hulless (naked) barley (Hordeum vulgare L. ‘Tarm’ and ‘Özen’, respectively), which differed in salt tolerance, under the combined stress of drought, heat and salt. The combined stress caused marked reductions in root length and increases in proline content in both genotypes; however, Tarm exhibited better adaptation to the triple stress. Under the first 24 h of stress, superoxide dismutase (SOD; EC.1.15.1.1) and peroxidase (POX; EC.1.11.1.7) activity in the Tarm roots increased remarkably, while decreasing in the Özen roots. Furthermore, the Tarm roots showed higher catalase (CAT; EC 1.11.1.6), ascorbate peroxidase (APX; EC 1.11.1.11) and glutathione reductase (GR; EC 1.6.4.2) activity than the Özen during the combined stresses. The sensitivity of hulless barley roots may be related to decreasing SOD, POX, CAT and GR activity under stress. Over 72 h of stress, the SA pretreatment improved the APX and GR activity in Tarm and that of POX and CAT in Özen, demonstrating that exogenously applied SA regulates antioxidant defense enzymes in order to detoxify reactive oxygen species. The results of this study suggest that SA treatment may improve the triple‐stress combination tolerance in hulled and hulless barley cultivars by increasing the level of antioxidant enzyme activity and promoting the accumulation of proline. Thus, SA alleviated the damaging effects of the triple stress by improving the antioxidant system, although these effects differed depending on characteristic of the hull of the grain.     

The activity of antioxidant defence enzymes in the mussel Mytilus galloprovincialis from the Adriatic Sea

The activity of the antioxidant defence enzymes superoxide dismutase (SOD, EC 1.15.1.1), catalase (CAT, EC 1.11.1.6), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px, EC 1.11.1.9), glutathione reductase (GR, EC 1.6.4.2) and the phase II biotransformation enzyme glutathione-S-transferase (GST, EC 2.5.1.18) in whole mussels (Mytilus galloprovincialis) were studied. The mussels were collected in winter and in spring at two localities in the Adriatic Sea: Bar Port and Tivat Bay. Our results show that the activities of SOD, GSH-Px and GST were seasonally dependent with higher activities in winter. GR activity was also higher in winter, but only in mussels from Bar Port. In mussels from Tivat Bay, GR activity was lower in winter compared to spring. In addition, a decrease in CAT activity in mussels from Bar Port compared to those from Tivat Bay was found. It can be concluded that seasonal variations should be incorporated into interpretation of biomonitoring studies in mussels.     

Are Phragmites australis enzymes involved in the degradation of the textile azo dye acid orange 7?

The role of antioxidant and detoxification enzymes of Phragmites australis, in the degradation of an azo dye, acid orange 7 (AO7), was studied. Activities of several enzymes involved in plant protection against stress were assayed through the activity characterization of superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidases (POD), catalase (CAT), ascorbate peroxidase (APOX), dehydroascorbate reductase (DHAR) and glutathione S-transferase (GST), obtained from P. australis crude extracts of leaves, stems and roots. A sub-surface vertical flow constructed wetland, planted with P. australis was used to test the plants response to the AO7 exposure at two different concentrations (130 and 700 mg l(-1)). An activity increase was detected for an AO7 concentration of 130 mg l(-1) for most enzymes studied (SOD, CAT and APOX), especially in leaves, suggesting a response of the reactive oxygen species scavenging enzymes to the chemical stress imposed. GST activity increase in this situation can also be interpreted as an activation of the detoxification pathway and subsequent AO7 conjugation. A totally different behaviour was observed for AO7 at 700 mg l(-1). An evident decrease in activity was observed for SOD, CAT, APOX and GST, probably due to enzymatic inhibition by AO7. Contrarily, DHAR activity augmented drastically in this situation. POD activity was not greatly affected during trial. Altogether these results suggest that P. australis effectively uses the ascorbate-glutathione pathway for the detoxification of AO7.     

Cadmium-induced oxidative damage and antioxidant responses in Brassica juncea plants

Indian mustard (Brassica juncea L. cv. Vitasso) plants exposed to 10, 30, 50 and 100 μM of Cd for 5 d in hydroponic culture were analysed with reference to the distribution of Cd²⁺, the accumulation of biomass and antioxidants and antioxidative enzymes in leaves. Cd induced a decrease in plant biomass. The maximum accumulation of Cd occurred in roots followed by stems and leaves. Cd induced a decrease in catalase (CAT) and guiacol peroxidase (GPX) activities but an increase in ascorbate peroxidase (APX) and monodehydroascorbate reductase (MDHAR) activities. Enhancement in dehydroascorbate reductase (DHAR) activity was also at 10 μM Cd. Glutathione reductase (GR) activity showed pronounced stimulation after all treatments, but glutathione S-transferase (GST) and glutathione peroxidase (GPOX) activities decreased. The effectiveness of ascorbate-glutathione cycle (AGC) was determined by the ratio of ascorbate to H₂O₂. This ratio decreased in the Cd-treated leaves which indicated that the cycle was disordered.     

外源一氧化氮供体对NaCl胁迫下多裂骆驼蓬幼苗叶片ASA-GSH循环的影响

研究了外源一氧化氮(NO)供体硝普钠(SNP)对NaCl胁迫下多裂骆驼蓬幼苗抗坏血酸(ASA)-谷胱甘肽(GSH)循环抗氧化系统及H2O2和丙二醛(MDA)含量的影响。结果表明,0.15mmol.L-1SNP能提高300mmol.L-1NaCl胁迫下多裂骆驼蓬幼苗叶片抗坏血酸过氧化物酶(APX)、谷胱甘肽还原酶(GR)和谷胱甘肽转硫酶(GST)活性,增加还原型抗坏血酸(ASA)和谷胱甘肽(GSH)含量,降低脱氢抗坏血酸(DHA)和氧化型谷胱甘肽(GSSG)含量,提高ASA/DHA、GSH/GSSG比率,降低H2O2和MDA水平,对单脱氢抗坏血酸还原酶(MDAR)和脱氢抗坏血酸还原酶(DHAR)活性无显著影响。NO信号转导途径关键酶鸟苷酸环化酶(GC)抑制剂亚甲基蓝(MB)逆转了SNP对盐胁迫下APX、GR、GST活性和ASA、GSH、DHA,H2O2、MDA含量及ASA/DHA、GSH/GSSG比率的调节效应。由此表明,NO可能通过GC介导的cGMP信号转导参与ASA-GSH循环活性氧清除系统的调节,从而缓解盐胁迫诱导的氧化伤害。     

胁迫诱导谷胱甘肽还原酶活性和同工酶谱的变化与H2O2的关系（英文）

以多种胁迫处理的野生型水稻中花11及其携带谷胱甘肽转移酶(GST)和过氧化氢酶(CAT)的功能获得突变体为材料,分析地上部H2O2含量、谷胱甘肽还原酶(GR)活性和同工酶谱的变化.结果显示,胁迫条件下野生型水稻(W)中H2O2的含量明显高于其突变体(M).非胁迫条件下W和M的GR同工酶都有3条带,且W和M之间无显著差异.单一镉、PEG-6000和外源H2O2处理诱导W均产生1条额外谱带,用H2O2和抗坏血酸(AsA)同时处理时,W中则未见该条带.当用镉和CAT抑制剂复合处理时,W和M的所有同工酶活性都降低;而同时用镉和H2O2清除剂处理时,W中则无GR同工酶条带.在其他处理(盐、高温、Zn、盐+高温、镉+高温、PEG+高温和Cd+Zn)条件下,W和M的GR活性和/或同工酶谱的变化也有明显差别.在所有处理中,W和M的GR总酶活性的变化与其同工酶的活性变化基本一致.在胁迫条件下W和M积累H2O2的水平不同,其GR活性和/或同工酶谱的变化也存在明显差异.研究表明,不同环境胁迫诱导水稻GR活性和同工酶谱的变化可能与H2O2水平有关.     

Physiological response of wheat varieties to elevated atmospheric CO2 and low water supply levels

In the phytotron experiment, the effect of elevated atmospheric CO₂ (EC, 750 μmol mol^?1) on the drought tolerance was studied in two winter varieties (Mv Mambo, tolerant; Mv Regiment, moderately tolerant) and in one spring variety of wheat (Lona, sensitive to drought). Changes in net photosynthetic rate (P _N), stomatal conductance, transpiration, wateruse efficiency, effective quantum yield of photosystem II, and activities of glutathione reductase (GR), glutathione-Stransferase (GST), guaiacol peroxidase (POD), catalase (CAT), and ascorbate peroxidase (APX) were monitored during water withdrawal. Drought caused a faster decline of P _N at EC, leading to the lower assimilation rates under severe drought compared with ambient CO₂ (NC). In the sensitive variety, P _N remained high for a longer period at EC. The growth at EC resulted in a more relaxed activation level of the antioxidant enzyme system in all three varieties, with very low activities of GR, GST, APX, and POD. The similar, low values were due to decreases in the varieties which had higher ambient values. A parallel increase of CAT was, however, recorded in two varieties. As the decline in P _N was faster at EC under drought but there was no change in the rate of electron transport compared to NC values, a higher level of oxidative stress was induced. This triggered a more pronounced, general response in the antioxidant enzyme system at EC, leading to very high activities of APX, CAT, and GST in all three varieties. The results indicated that EC had generally favourable effects on the development and stress tolerance of plants, although bigger foliage made the plants more prone to the water loss. The relaxation of the defence mechanisms increased potentially the risk of damage due to the higher level of oxidative stress at EC under severe drought compared with NC.     

Effects of zinc and cadmium on erythrocyte antioxidant systems of a freshwater fish Oreochromis niloticus

In this work to determine the effects of metals exposure of Oreochromis niloticus on erythrocyte antioxidant systems, fish were exposed to 5.0 mg/L Zn, 1.0 mg/L Cd, and 5.0 mg/L Zn + 1.0 mg/L Cd mixtures for 7 and 14 days and reduced glutathione (GSH) level, catalase (CAT), and glucose‐6‐phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) activities were investigated. In addition, Zn or Cd levels in whole blood were studied. Erythrocyte GSH level and CAT and G6PD enzyme activities increased in response to single and combined Zn and Cd exposure. The elevation observed in the CAT activity was higher in the Cd alone, and in combination with Zn, than in Zn alone. Time‐dependent alteration was not observed in all antioxidant parameters. Exposure to metals (alone and in mixture) resulted in elevatation of Zn and Cd levels in the blood. Concentration of metals in the blood of fish exposed to the Zn + Cd combination was lower than in fish exposed to the single metal. This study demonstrates that metals caused oxidative stress in fish erythrocytes, and an adaptation with an increase in CAT and G6PD activities and GSH level, which were important in the protection against metal damage, was observed. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biochem Mol Toxicol 24:223–229, 2010; View this article online at wileyonlinelibrary.com . DOI 10.1002/jbt.20327     

Response of catalase activity to Ag+, Cd2+, Cr6+, Cu2+ and Zn2+ in five tissues of freshwater fish Oreochromis niloticus

Catalase (CAT, EC 1.11.1.6) is an important enzyme in antioxidant defense system protecting animals from oxidative stress. Freshwater fish Oreochromis niloticus were exposed for 96 h to different concentrations of Ag(+), Cd(2+), Cr(6+), Cu(2+) and Zn(2+), known to cause oxidative stress, and subsequently CAT activities in liver, kidney, gill, intestine and brain were measured. In vivo, CAT was stimulated by all metals except Ag(+) in the liver and the highest increase in CAT activity (183%) resulted from 1.0 mg Cd(2+)/L exposure, whereas 0.5 mg Ag(+)/L exposure resulted in a sharp decrease (44%). In tilapia kidney, cadmium and zinc had no significant effects on CAT activity, whereas 0.1 mg Cr(6+)/L exposure caused a decrease (44%). Cadmium and zinc did not significantly affect the CAT activity in gill; however, 0.5 mg Ag(+)/L exposure caused an increase (66%) and 1.5 mg Cr(6+)/L exposure caused a decrease (97%) in CAT activity. All metals, except Cu(2+)(41% increase), caused significant decreases in CAT activity in the intestine. In brain, 1.0 mg Zn(2+)/L resulted in an increase in CAT activity (126%), while 1.5 mg Ag(+)/L exposure caused a 54% decrease. In vitro, all metals -- except Ag(+) and Cu(2+) in kidney -- significantly inhibited the CAT activity in all tissues. Results emphasized that CAT may be considered as a sensitive bioindicator of the antioxidant defense system.     

Transgenic tobacco plants overexpressing cotton glutathione S-transferase (GST) show enhanced resistance to methyl viologen

A GST (EC 2.5.1.18) gene (Gst-cr 1) from cotton was introduced into Nicotiana tabacum by Agrobacterium tumefaciens-mediated transformation. Transgenic tobacco plants overexpressing Gst-cr1 were normal in growth and mature compared with control, but had much higher levels of GST and GPx activities and showed an enhanced resistance to oxidative stress induced by a low concentration of methyl viologen (MV). Six antioxidant enzymes, glutathione S-transferase, glutathione peroxidase (EC 1.11.1.9), superoxide dismutase (EC 1.15.1.1), peroxidase (EC 1.11.1.7), catalase (EC 1.11.1.6), and ascorbate peroxidase (EC 1.11.1.11) were monitored in transgenic lines and non-transgenic control during MV treatments. When they were treated with 0.03 mmol/L of MV, both transgenic lines and control showed a rapid increase in the activities of GST, GPx, SOD, POD, APx, while the activity of CAT seemed to be irregular. The percent of the increase in SOD and POD activities was much higher in control than in transgenic plants. When treated with 0.05 mmol/L of MV, both control and transgenic plants were severely damaged, and the activities of the six enzymes decreased sharply.     

Biochemical markers of oxidative stress in Perna viridis exposed to mercury and temperature

Oxidative damage and antioxidant properties have been studied in Perna viridis subjected to short-term exposure to Hg along with temperature (72h) and long-term temperature exposures (14 days) as pollution biomarkers. The elevated thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBA-RS) levels observed in gills and digestive gland under exposure to Hg, individually and combined with temperature, as also long-term temperature stress have been assigned to the oxidative damage resulting in lipid peroxidation (LPX). Increased activities of antioxidants such as superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPX), glutathione reductase (GR) and glutathione-S-transferase (GST) both in gills and digestive glands under long-term exposures to temperatures are more prominent to heat rather than cold stress suggesting activation of physiological mechanism to scavenge the ROS produced during heat stress. Also decreased values of reduced glutathione (GSH) on long exposures to temperature stress indicate utilisation of this antioxidant, either to scavenge oxiradicals or act in combination with other enzymes, was more than its production capacity under heat stress. The results suggest that temperature variation does alter the active oxygen metabolism by modulating antioxidant enzyme activities, which can be used as biomarker to detect sublethal effects of pollution.