Effect of Zn2+ Ions on Acid Nuclease Activity in Freshwater Mollusks

The effect of increased concentrations of Zn2+ ions on the activity of the complex of acid deoxyribonucleases (DNases) and ribonucleases (RNases) of the hepatopancreas of Viviparus viviparus L. was studied. An increase in the activity of acid DNases under the influence of Zn2+ was revealed. An antisymbatic dependence of the change in the activity of acid DNases on the zinc concentration in the hepatopancreas of mollusks is observed. The character of RNase activity under the influence of Zn2+ ions is less indicative. The character of changes in the activity of acid DNases in experimental animals shows that this biochemical indicator can be used as a marker of toxic effects on living organisms in the ecological and biochemical monitoring of fresh water pollution.