Proteomics as a route to identification of toxicity targets in environmental toxicology

Effect of oxidative stress on protein thiols in the blue mussel Mytilus edulis : Proteomic identification of target proteins

Protein thiols are targets of oxidative stress. Their modification was analysed in gill extracts of the mussel Mytilus edulis, exposed to menadione. Diagonal gel electrophoresis revealed two clusters of carbonylated proteins involved in interchain disulphide linkages. Immunoblotting identified these as being associated with protein disulphide isomerase (PDI) and actin and this was confirmed by immunoprecipitation. Protein free thiols (-SH) were identified in 2-DE separations by labelling with 5-iodoacetamidofluorescein (IAF). Cysteines involved in disulphide bridges were identified by blocking free -SH with N-ethylmaleimide, reducing disulphides with DTT and IAF labelling. Several protein spots containing free thiols disappeared on exposure to menadione. Conversely, new protein spots containing disulphides appeared in response to menadione which may be protective against oxidative stress. In-gel tryptic digestion followed by LC/MS-MS and database searching identified some of the free thiol targets: PDI; hsp gp96; calreticulin; heavy metal binding protein. Tubulin, PDI, enolase and gelsolin contained new disulphide bridges in response to menadione. Our findings indicate a protein level response to oxidative stress principally involving PDI, chaperone-like and cytoskeletal proteins. Since many environmental pollutants cause oxidative stress, studies on PDI and structural proteins may be particularly relevant to understanding toxicity in this popular sentinel species.

The potential of proteomics for providing new insights into environmental impacts on human health

The effects of environmental chemicals have traditionally been detected by monitoring biomarkers of exposure or biomarkers of effect. Proteomics, the study of the complete profile of proteins in a given cell, tissue or biological system, is a new approach using a set of high-throughput methodologies with a wide dynamic range that makes possible the discovery of novel biomarkers. This article reviews the application of two-dimensional electrophoresis and mass-spectrometry methods to environmental toxicology. Emphasis is placed on the protein-expression signature approach and on identifying redox-based post-translational protein modifications. The methodological links between studies in sentinel organisms and humans are explored. Significant limitations and challenges are placed on this approach by the shortage of genome sequence data necessary for protein identification and the growing requirement for more stringent study design. Proteomics will continue to be an important toolkit to help address the growing environmental threat posed by nanoparticles and endocrine disrupting agents.