Effect of zinc exposure periods on protein and activity of enzymes in the soft tissue of mussel (Dreissena polymorpha)

Dreissena polymorpha mussel were collected from Al-Kadesia lake - Haditha /Al- Anbar Governorate-Iraq. The animals were exposed for 2, 4, 6 and 8 days to 16 mg zinc/l of water. The soft tissue was analyzed for the effect of zinc on total protein components and activity of six enzymes (using colorimetric and/or electrophoretic methods). Zinc was found to cause (a) Change in the intensity of some esterase patterns and increase of total protein by increasing the exposure time to zinc (b) Increase in the activity of the enzymes, alkaline phosphatase (ALP), glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase(GOT) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH ) and decrease in the activity of acid phosphatase (ACP) and glutamate pyruvate transaminase (GPT) with increase of exposure time. These changes may be useful as an earlier indicator for water pollution with zinc.