Impact of Paper Mill effluent on Protein Metabolism of Snake headed fish, Channa punctatus

The present investigation was designed to study the effect of sublethal concentration of paper mill effluent on the total protein and amino acid contents in muscles, liver and gill of Channa punctatus after exposure to 96 hours. A significant decrease in protein content with increase in amino acids content in muscles, liver and gill of effluent exposed fishes was observed. A reduction in the protein content and enhancement of free amino acids in the muscles, liver and gill of experimental fish suggests that the tissue protein might have undergone proteolysis, during the stressful situation. Thus, the present study concludes that the protein metabolism of fish Channa punctatus affected during effluent exposure and reduces the nutritive value of fish.