1. Characterization of Glutathione S-Transferases in Juvenile White Sturgeon
Donham, R. T., D. Morin, W. T. Jewell, M. W. Lame, H. J. Segall and R. S. Tjeerdema, 2005. Characterization of glutathione S-transferases in juvenile white sturgeon (Acipenser transmontanus). Aquat. Toxicol. 71, 203-214.
2. Characterization of Glutathione S-Transferases in Juvenile Chinook Salmon
Donham, R. T., D. Morin, W. T. Jewell, M. W. Lame, H. J. Segall and R. S. Tjeerdema. Characterization of cytosolic glutathione S-transferases in juvenile Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha). Aquat. Toxicol. (in press)
3. Characterization of and Effects of Salinity on Glutathione S-Transferases in Juvenile White Sturgeon and Chinook Salmon
Donham, R. T., D. Morin and R. S. Tjeerdema. Influence of salinity on activity and expression of glutathione S-transferases in juvenile sturgeon (Acipenser transmontanus) and salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha). Ecotoxicol. Environ. Saf. (in press)
4. Characterization of Glutathone S-Transfeases in Striped Bass.
5. Characterization of Glutathone S-Transfeases in California Halibut.
6. Tissue and Sex Differences in Glutathone S-Transfeases in Striped Bass.

Background
Each year, over two hundred tons of pesticides are applied to the areas around the Sacramento River. Many of these pesticides, including atrazine, are electrophilic, meaning they have the potential to bind with proteins and other macromolecules. Glutathione (GSH) is a tripeptide that acts during phase II metabolism to conjugate electrophiles and prevent damage to cell membranes and other macromolecules. Glutathione S-transferases (GSTs) are metabolic enzymes that catalyze the conjugation of GSH to electrophiles. Anadromous fish species, such as the white sturgeon (family Acipenseridae) and chinook salmon (family Salmonidae), use the Sacramento River and surrounding waterways for their reproductive cycle, with juveniles returning to the ocean once spawned. Loss of juvenile fish exposed to agricultural runoff could account for the decline as they must also simultaneously deal with migratory stressors, which may compromise their ability to detoxify pesticides. One goal of this study was to compare the ability of two distinctly different anadromous fishes, chinook salmon and white sturgeon, to detoxify via GSH conjugation, and determine the influence of salinity stress associated with migration.

 Importance of Research
Decreases in native populations of fish species may indicate an environmental change or chronic exposure to a pollutant. In addition, species in different life stages may differ in their susceptibility or resistance to xenobiotic exposures. This may be especially apparent when coupled with environmental and physiological stressors, such as those incurred during smoltification. Numbers of chinook salmon and white sturgeon have declined from historical levels. These fish species are important members of the ecosystem, as well as economically important game fishes. Obtaining a better understanding of the interactions of endogenous and exogenous factors during critical life stages may lead to better preservation and recovery of these species as well as improvements in culturing practices. Data obtained in this study may lead to safer limits on environmental pollutants or to changes in release strategies for hatchery-reared juveniles. These approaches may aid in the recovery and stabilization of these fish populations.