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Colpaert R, de Vaufleury A, Rieffel D, Amiot C, Crini N, Gimbert F. The effects of polystyrene microparticles on the environmental availability and bioavailability of As, Cd and Hg in soil for the land snail Cantareus aspersus. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 947:174451. [PMID: 38969124 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.174451] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2024] [Revised: 06/14/2024] [Accepted: 07/01/2024] [Indexed: 07/07/2024]
Abstract
The combined contamination of terrestrial environments by metal(loid)s (MEs) and microplastics (MPs) is a major environmental issue. Once MPs enter soils, they can interact with MEs and modify their environmental availability, environmental bioavailability, and potential toxic effects on biota. Although research efforts have been made to describe the underlying mechanisms driving MP and ME interactions, the effects of MPs on ME bioavailability in terrestrial Mollusca have not yet been documented. To fill this gap, we exposed the terrestrial snail Cantareus aspersus to different combinations of polystyrene (PS) and arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), or mercury (Hg) concentrations. Using kinetic approaches, we then assessed the variations in the environmental availability of As, Cd or Hg after three weeks of equilibration and in the environmental bioavailability of As, Cd or Hg to snails after four weeks of exposure. We showed that while environmental availability was influenced by the total ME concentration, the effects of PS were limited. Although an increase in As availability was observed for the highest exposure concentrations at the beginning of the experiment, the soil ageing processes led to rapid adsorption in the soil regardless of the PS particle concentration. Concerning transfers to snail, ME bioaccumulation was ME concentration-dependent but not modified by the PS concentration in the soils. Nevertheless, the kinetic approaches evidenced an increase in As (2- to 2.6-fold) and Cd (1.6-fold), but not Hg, environmental bioavailability or excretion (2.3- to 3.6-fold for As, 1.8-fold for Cd) at low PS concentrations. However, these impacts were no longer observable at the highest PS exposure concentrations because of the increase in the bioaccessibility of MEs in the snail digestive tract. The generalization of such hormetic responses and the identification of the precise mechanisms involved necessitate further research to deepen our understanding of the MP-mediated behaviour of MEs in co-occurring scenarios.
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Affiliation(s)
- Romain Colpaert
- Chrono-environnement UMR6249, CNRS Université de Franche-Comté, F-25000 Besançon, France
| | - Annette de Vaufleury
- Chrono-environnement UMR6249, CNRS Université de Franche-Comté, F-25000 Besançon, France
| | - Dominique Rieffel
- Chrono-environnement UMR6249, CNRS Université de Franche-Comté, F-25000 Besançon, France
| | - Caroline Amiot
- Chrono-environnement UMR6249, CNRS Université de Franche-Comté, F-25000 Besançon, France
| | - Nadia Crini
- Chrono-environnement UMR6249, CNRS Université de Franche-Comté, F-25000 Besançon, France
| | - Frédéric Gimbert
- Chrono-environnement UMR6249, CNRS Université de Franche-Comté, F-25000 Besançon, France.
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2
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Valsecchi R, Baumann C, Lila A, Zerbe O. Evolution of Cd2+ and Cu+ binding in Helix pomatia metallothioneins. Metallomics 2023; 15:mfad057. [PMID: 37738453 PMCID: PMC10548783 DOI: 10.1093/mtomcs/mfad057] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2023] [Accepted: 09/14/2023] [Indexed: 09/24/2023]
Abstract
Metallothioneins (MTs) are small proteins present in all kingdoms of life. Their high cysteine content enables them to bind metal ions, such as Zn2+, Cd2+, and Cu+, providing means for detoxification and metal homeostasis. Three MT isoforms with distinct metal binding preferences are present in the Roman Snail Helix pomatia. Here, we use nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) to follow the evolution of Cd2+ and Cu+ binding from the reconstructed ancestral Stylommatophora MT to the three H. pomatia MT (HpMT) isoforms. Information obtained from [15N,1H]-HSQC spectra and T2 relaxation times are combined to describe the conformational stability of the MT-metal complexes. A well-behaved MT-metal complex adopts a unique structure and does not undergo additional conformational exchange. The ancestor to all three HpMTs forms conformationally stable Cd2+ complexes and closely resembles the Cd2+-specific HpCdMT isoform, suggesting a role in Cd2+ detoxification for the ancestral protein. All Cu+-MT complexes, including the Cu+-specific HpCuMT isoform, undergo a considerable amount of conformational exchange. The unspecific HpCd/CuMT and the Cu+-specific HpCuMT isoforms form Cu+ complexes with comparable characteristics. It is possible to follow how Cd2+ and Cu+ binding changed throughout evolution. Interestingly, Cu+ binding improved independently in the lineages leading to the unspecific and the Cu+-specific HpMT isoforms. C-terminal domains are generally less capable of coordinating the non-cognate metal ion than N-terminal domains, indicating a higher level of specialization of the C-domain. Our findings provide new insights into snail MT evolution, helping to understand the interplay between biological function and structural features toward a comprehensive understanding of metal preference.
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Affiliation(s)
- Renato Valsecchi
- Department of Chemistry, University of Zurich, 8057 Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, Switzerland
| | - Christian Baumann
- Department of Chemistry, University of Zurich, 8057 Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, Switzerland
| | - Ardit Lila
- Department of Chemistry, University of Zurich, 8057 Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, Switzerland
| | - Oliver Zerbe
- Department of Chemistry, University of Zurich, 8057 Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, Switzerland
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García-Risco M, Calatayud S, Pedrini-Martha V, Albalat R, Palacios Ò, Capdevila M, Dallinger R. A de novo evolved domain improves the cadmium detoxification capacity of limpet metallothioneins. Sci Rep 2023; 13:8895. [PMID: 37264073 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-35786-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2023] [Accepted: 05/23/2023] [Indexed: 06/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Metallothioneins (MTs) constitute an important family of metal binding proteins. Mollusk MTs, in particular, have been used as model systems to better understand the evolution of their metal binding features and functional adaptation. In the present study two recombinantly produced MTs, LgiMT1 and LgiMT2, and their de novo evolved γ domain, of the marine limpet Lottia gigantea, were analyzed by electronic spectroscopy and mass spectrometry. Both MT proteins, as well as their γ domains, exhibit a strong binding specificity for Cd(II), but not for Zn(II) or Cu(I). The LgiMTs' γ domain renders an MII4(SCys)10 cluster with an increased Cd stoichiometry (binding 4 instead of 3 Cd2+ ions), representing a novel structural element in the world of MTs, probably featuring an adamantane 3D structure. This cluster significantly improves the Cd(II)-binding performance of the full length proteins and thus contributes to the particularly high Cd coping capacity observed in free-living limpets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mario García-Risco
- Departament de Química, Facultat de Ciències, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193, Cerdanyola del Vallès, Spain
| | - Sara Calatayud
- Departament de Genètica, Facultat de Biologia, Microbiologia i Estadística and Institut de Recerca de la Biodiversitat (IRBio), Universitat de Barcelona, Av. Diagonal 643, 08028, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Veronika Pedrini-Martha
- Institute of Zoology, Center of Molecular Biosciences, University of Innsbruck, Technikerstraße 25, 6020, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Ricard Albalat
- Departament de Genètica, Facultat de Biologia, Microbiologia i Estadística and Institut de Recerca de la Biodiversitat (IRBio), Universitat de Barcelona, Av. Diagonal 643, 08028, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Òscar Palacios
- Departament de Química, Facultat de Ciències, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193, Cerdanyola del Vallès, Spain
| | - Mercè Capdevila
- Departament de Química, Facultat de Ciències, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193, Cerdanyola del Vallès, Spain.
| | - Reinhard Dallinger
- Institute of Zoology, Center of Molecular Biosciences, University of Innsbruck, Technikerstraße 25, 6020, Innsbruck, Austria.
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4
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Draghici GA, Dehelean CA, Moaca AE, Moise ML, Pinzaru I, Vladut VN, Banatean-Dunea I, Nica D. Cadmium nitrate and DNA methylation in gastropods: comparison between ovotestis and hepatopancreas. PeerJ 2023; 11:e15032. [PMID: 37073276 PMCID: PMC10106083 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.15032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2022] [Accepted: 02/19/2023] [Indexed: 04/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Dietary ingestion is the main route of exposure to hazardous contaminants in land animals. Cadmium, a high-profile toxic metal, affects living systems at different organismal levels, including major storage organs (liver, kidneys), key organs for species survival (gonads), and epigenetic networks regulating gene expression. 5-methylcytosine (5mC) is the most common and best-characterized epigenetic mark among different modified nucleosides in DNA. This important player in methylation-driven gene expression is impacted by cadmium in sentinel terrestrial vertebrates. However, limited information exists regarding its impact on macroinvertebrates, especially land snails commonly used as (eco)toxicological models. We first investigate the methylomic effects of dietary cadmium given as cadmium nitrate on terrestrial mollusks. Mature specimens of the common brown garden snail, Cornu aspersum, were continuously exposed for four weeks to environmentally-relevant cadmium levels. We determined global genomic DNA methylation in hepatopancreas and ovotestis, as well as changes in the methylation status of CG pairs at the 5' region close to the transcription site of gene encoding the Cd-selective metallothionein (Cd-MT). Weight gain/loss, hypometabolism tendency, and survival rates were also assessed. Although this exposure event did not adversely affect survival, gastropods exposed to the highest Cd dose revealed a significant reduction in body weight and a significant increase in hypometabolic behavior. The hepatopancreas, but not the ovotestis, displayed significant hypermethylation, but only for the aforementioned specimens. We also found that the 5' end of the Cd-MT gene was unmethylated in both organs and its methylation status was insensitive to cadmium exposure. Our results are important since they provide scientists, for the first time, with quantitative data on DNA methylation in gastropod ovotestis and refine our understanding of Cd epigenetic effects on terrestrial mollusks.
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Affiliation(s)
- George A. Draghici
- Department of Toxicology and Drug Industry, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Timisoara, Timisoara, Timis, Romania
- Research Center for Pharmaco-Toxicological Evaluations, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Timisoara, Timisoara, Timis, Romania
| | - Cristina A. Dehelean
- Department of Toxicology and Drug Industry, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Timisoara, Timisoara, Timis, Romania
- Research Center for Pharmaco-Toxicological Evaluations, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Timisoara, Timisoara, Timis, Romania
| | - Alina E. Moaca
- Department of Toxicology and Drug Industry, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Timisoara, Timisoara, Timis, Romania
- Research Center for Pharmaco-Toxicological Evaluations, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Timisoara, Timisoara, Timis, Romania
| | - Marius L. Moise
- Premiere Hospital, Regina Maria Health Network, Timisoara, Timis, Romania
| | - Iulia Pinzaru
- Department of Toxicology and Drug Industry, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Timisoara, Timisoara, Timis, Romania
- Research Center for Pharmaco-Toxicological Evaluations, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Timisoara, Timisoara, Timis, Romania
| | - Valentin N. Vladut
- The National Institute of Research –Development for Machines and Installations Designed for Agriculture and Food Industry, Bucharest, Romania
| | - Ioan Banatean-Dunea
- Faculty of Agriculture, University of Life Sciences “King Mihai I” from Timişoara, Timisoara, Timis, Romania
| | - Dragos Nica
- Research Center for Pharmaco-Toxicological Evaluations, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Timisoara, Timisoara, Timis, Romania
- The National Institute of Research –Development for Machines and Installations Designed for Agriculture and Food Industry, Bucharest, Romania
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5
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Gnatyshyna L, Khoma V, Martinyuk V, Matskiv T, Pedrini-Martha V, Niederwanger M, Stoliar O, Dallinger R. Sublethal cadmium exposure in the freshwater snail Lymnaea stagnalis meets a deficient, poorly responsive metallothionein system while evoking oxidative and cellular stress. Comp Biochem Physiol C Toxicol Pharmacol 2023; 263:109490. [PMID: 36265756 DOI: 10.1016/j.cbpc.2022.109490] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2022] [Revised: 09/29/2022] [Accepted: 10/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
The Great Pond snail Lymnaea stagnalis (Gastropoda, Hygrophila) is a wide-spread freshwater gastropod, being considered as a model organism for research in many fields of biology, including ecotoxicology. The aim of the present study was to explore the Cd sensitivity of L. stagnalis through the measurement of a biomarker battery for oxidative, toxic and cellular stress. The interpretation of biomarker parameters occurred against the background of a truncated metallothionein protein with a limited Cd-binding capacity. Individuals of L. stagnalis were exposed through 14 days to uncontaminated water (controls) or to low (30 μg · L-1) or high (50 μg · L-1) Cd concentrations. The digestive gland of control and low-Cd exposed snails was processed for transcriptional analysis of the Metallothionein (MT) gene expression, and for determination of biomarkers for oxidative stress, toxicity and cellular stress. Digestive gland supernatants of high-Cd exposed snails were subjected to chromatography and subsequent analysis by spectrophotometry. It was shown that the MT system of L. stagnalis is functionally deficient, with a poor Cd responsiveness at both, the transcriptional and the protein expression levels. Instead, L. stagnalis appears to rely on alternative detoxification mechanisms such as Cd binding by phytochelatins and metal inactivation by compartmentalization within the lysosomal system. In spite of this, however, traces of Cd apparently leak out of the pre-determined detoxification pathways, leading to adverse effects, which is clearly indicated by biomarkers of oxidative and cellular stress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lesya Gnatyshyna
- I.Ya. Horbachevsky Ternopil National Medical University, Ternopil, Ukraine; Ternopil Volodymyr Hnatiuk National Pedagogical University, Ternopil, Ukraine.
| | - Vira Khoma
- Ternopil Volodymyr Hnatiuk National Pedagogical University, Ternopil, Ukraine.
| | - Viktoria Martinyuk
- Ternopil Volodymyr Hnatiuk National Pedagogical University, Ternopil, Ukraine
| | - Tetyana Matskiv
- I.Ya. Horbachevsky Ternopil National Medical University, Ternopil, Ukraine; Ternopil Volodymyr Hnatiuk National Pedagogical University, Ternopil, Ukraine.
| | | | - Michael Niederwanger
- Institute of Zoology, University and Center of Molecular Biosciences, Innsbruck, Austria.
| | - Oksana Stoliar
- Ternopil Volodymyr Hnatiuk National Pedagogical University, Ternopil, Ukraine.
| | - Reinhard Dallinger
- Institute of Zoology, University and Center of Molecular Biosciences, Innsbruck, Austria.
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6
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García-Risco M, González A, Calatayud S, Lopez-Jaramillo FJ, Pedrini-Martha V, Albalat R, Dallinger R, Dominguez-Vera JM, Palacios Ò, Capdevila M. Metal-dependent glycosylation in recombinant metallothioneins. Chem Commun (Camb) 2022; 58:13755-13758. [PMID: 36416731 DOI: 10.1039/d2cc05589a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
We show for the first time glycosylation of recombinant metallothioneins (MTs) produced in E. coli. Interestingly, our results show that the glycosylation level of the recombinant MTs is inversely proportional to the degree of protein structuration, and reflects their different metal preferences.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mario García-Risco
- Department of Chemistry, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Cerdanyola del Vallès (E-08193), Spain.
| | - Ana González
- Department of Inorganic Chemistry and Biotechnology Institute, University of Granada, Granada (E-18071), Spain.
| | - Sara Calatayud
- Department of Genetics, Microbiology and Statistics, University of Barcelona, Barcelona (E-08028), Spain
| | - Francisco J Lopez-Jaramillo
- Department of Organic Chemistry and Biotechnology Institute, University of Granada, Granada (E-18071), Spain
| | - Veronika Pedrini-Martha
- Institute of Zoology and Center of Molecular Biosciences, University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck (A-60210), Austria
| | - Ricard Albalat
- Department of Genetics, Microbiology and Statistics, University of Barcelona, Barcelona (E-08028), Spain.,Institut de Recerca de la Biodiversitat (IRBio), Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona (E-08028), Spain
| | - Reinhard Dallinger
- Institute of Zoology and Center of Molecular Biosciences, University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck (A-60210), Austria
| | - José M Dominguez-Vera
- Department of Inorganic Chemistry and Biotechnology Institute, University of Granada, Granada (E-18071), Spain.
| | - Òscar Palacios
- Department of Chemistry, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Cerdanyola del Vallès (E-08193), Spain.
| | - Mercè Capdevila
- Department of Chemistry, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Cerdanyola del Vallès (E-08193), Spain.
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7
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Wang L, Yang HZ, Ma WL, Chen CM, Wang L. Study on metal binding capacity of the freshwater crab Sinopotamon henanense's recombinant copper specific binding metallothionein expressed in Escherichia coli. ECOTOXICOLOGY (LONDON, ENGLAND) 2022; 31:149-160. [PMID: 34751855 DOI: 10.1007/s10646-021-02470-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 08/17/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
The copper specific binding metallothionein (CuMT) is a type of cysteine-rich, metal-binding, small protein which plays an important role in Cu2+ metabolism in vertebrates. In this study, we investigated the metal tolerance and removing ability of recombinant strains harboring CuMT obtained in vivo from the freshwater crab Sinopotamon henanense (ShCuMT) in order to study its physiological functions and metal binding capacity. We performed a 3D modeling of ShCuMT and created its structural and functional models using the I-TASSER program. The shCumt gene was inserted into a pGEX-4t-1 vector and recombinant soluble ShCuMT was expressed in Escherichia coli. In addition, in order to characterize the tolerance and removing ability of heavy metals in E. coli with ShCuMT expression, the recombinant strains harboring ShCuMT were exposed to various concentrations of Cd2+, Cu2+ and Zn2+, respectively. The results showed that ShCuMT contains transition metal binding sites. In addition, E. coli cells expressing ShCuMT exhibited enhanced metal tolerance and higher removing ability of metal ions than control cells. However, compared with Cd2+ and Zn2+, E. coli cells expressing ShCuMT have stronger tolerance and higher removing ability of Cu2+. In general, ShCuMT contains multiple transition metal binding sites, and it could enhance tolerance and removing ability of metal ions. Therefore, ShCuMT can provide potential candidates for heavy metal bioremediation. This research on the metal binding properties of ShCuMT provides a scientific basis for bioremediation of heavy metal pollution by the recombinant strains.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lu Wang
- School of Life Science, Shanxi University, Taiyuan, Shanxi Province, 030006, China
| | - Hui Zhen Yang
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Shanxi Agricultural University, Jinzhong, Shanxi Province, 030600, China
| | - Wen Li Ma
- School of Life Science, Shanxi University, Taiyuan, Shanxi Province, 030006, China
| | - Chien Min Chen
- Department of Environmental Resources Management, Chia Nan University of Pharmacy & Science, Tainan City, Taiwan
| | - Lan Wang
- School of Life Science, Shanxi University, Taiyuan, Shanxi Province, 030006, China.
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8
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García-Risco M, Calatayud S, Pedrini-Martha V, Albalat R, Dallinger R, Palacios Ò, Capdevila M. Metal-Specificity Divergence between Metallothioneins of Nerita peloronta (Neritimorpha, Gastropoda) Sets the Starting Point for a Novel Chemical MT Classification Proposal. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:13114. [PMID: 34884919 PMCID: PMC8658704 DOI: 10.3390/ijms222313114] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2021] [Revised: 11/27/2021] [Accepted: 12/02/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Metallothioneins' (MTs) biological function has been a matter of debate since their discovery. The importance to categorize these cysteine-rich proteins with high coordinating capacity into a specific group led to numerous classification proposals. We proposed a classification based on their metal-binding abilities, gradually sorting them from those with high selectivity towards Zn/Cd to those that are Cu-specific. However, the study of the NpeMT1 and NpeMT2isoforms of Nerita peloronta, has put a new perspective on this classification. N. peloronta has been chosen as a representative mollusk to elucidate the metal-binding abilities of Neritimorpha MTs, an order without any MTs characterized recently. Both isoforms have been recombinantly synthesized in cultures supplemented with ZnII, CdII, or CuII, and the purified metal-MT complexes have been thoroughly characterized by spectroscopic and spectrometric methods, leading to results that confirmed that Neritimorpha share Cd-selective MTs with Caenogastropoda and Heterobranchia, solving a so far unresolved question. NpeMTs show high coordinating preferences towards divalent metal ions, although one of them (NpeMT1) shares features with the so-called genuine Zn-thioneins, while the other (NpeMT2) exhibits a higher preference for Cd. The dissimilarities between the two isoforms let a window open to a new proposal of chemical MT classification.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mario García-Risco
- Departament de Química, Facultat de Ciències, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, E-08193 Cerdanyola del Vallès, Spain; (M.G.-R.); (Ò.P.)
| | - Sara Calatayud
- Departament de Genètica, Microbiologia i Estadística and Institut de Recerca de la Biodiversitat (IRBio), Facultat de Biologia, Universitat de Barcelona, Av. Diagonal 643, E-08028 Barcelona, Spain; (S.C.); (R.A.)
| | - Veronika Pedrini-Martha
- Institute of Zoology and Center of Molecular Biosciences, University of Innsbruck, Technikerstraße 25, A-6020 Innsbruck, Austria;
| | - Ricard Albalat
- Departament de Genètica, Microbiologia i Estadística and Institut de Recerca de la Biodiversitat (IRBio), Facultat de Biologia, Universitat de Barcelona, Av. Diagonal 643, E-08028 Barcelona, Spain; (S.C.); (R.A.)
| | - Reinhard Dallinger
- Institute of Zoology and Center of Molecular Biosciences, University of Innsbruck, Technikerstraße 25, A-6020 Innsbruck, Austria;
| | - Òscar Palacios
- Departament de Química, Facultat de Ciències, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, E-08193 Cerdanyola del Vallès, Spain; (M.G.-R.); (Ò.P.)
| | - Mercè Capdevila
- Departament de Química, Facultat de Ciències, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, E-08193 Cerdanyola del Vallès, Spain; (M.G.-R.); (Ò.P.)
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9
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Effects of Cadmium Sulfate on the Brown Garden Snail Cornu aspersum: Implications for DNA Methylation. TOXICS 2021; 9:toxics9110306. [PMID: 34822697 PMCID: PMC8619149 DOI: 10.3390/toxics9110306] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2021] [Revised: 11/01/2021] [Accepted: 11/08/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
An extensive literature exists regarding the cellular, physiological, and genetic effects of cadmium (Cd)—A highly toxic, but commonly used trace metal in modern industry. However, limited data are available on its epigenetic effects, especially for terrestrial sentinel invertebrates. We determined Cd retention, total DNA methylation, and the methylation status of 5′ end of the Cd-MT gene in the hepatopancreas of the brown garden snail, Cornu aspersum, fed Cd sulfate for four weeks. Bodyweight changes and survival were also measured. Hepatopancreas cadmium increased in a dose-dependent manner from the third-lowest dose onward, with very large amounts being found for the highest treatment group. However, no mortalities occurred, irrespective of dietary Cd dose. We identified significant genome-wide hypermethylation in specimens given the highest dose, which overlapped with a significant bodyweight decrease. The Cd-MT gene showed an unmethylated 5′ end of the Cd-MT gene and this status was not affected by cadmium exposure. Hepatopancreas DNA methylation is as sensitive as bodyweight to non-lethal concentrations of dietary Cd given as cadmium sulfate but less responsive than tissue accumulation. Such an exposure event, by contrast, does not affect the methylation status of the Cd-MT gene 5′ end.
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10
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Calatayud S, Garcia-Risco M, Pedrini-Martha V, Eernisse DJ, Dallinger R, Palacios Ò, Capdevila M, Albalat R. Modularity in Protein Evolution: Modular Organization and De Novo Domain Evolution in Mollusk Metallothioneins. Mol Biol Evol 2021; 38:424-436. [PMID: 32915992 PMCID: PMC7826182 DOI: 10.1093/molbev/msaa230] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Metallothioneins (MTs) are proteins devoted to the control of metal homeostasis and detoxification, and therefore, MTs have been crucial for the adaptation of the living beings to variable situations of metal bioavailability. The evolution of MTs is, however, not yet fully understood, and to provide new insights into it, we have investigated the MTs in the diverse classes of Mollusks. We have shown that most molluskan MTs are bimodular proteins that combine six domains—α, β1, β2, β3, γ, and δ—in a lineage-specific manner. We have functionally characterized the Neritimorpha β3β1 and the Patellogastropoda γβ1 MTs, demonstrating the metal-binding capacity of the new γ domain. Our results have revealed a modular organization of mollusk MT, whose evolution has been impacted by duplication, loss, and de novo emergence of domains. MTs represent a paradigmatic example of modular evolution probably driven by the structural and functional requirements of metal binding.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara Calatayud
- Departament de Genètica, Microbiologia i Estadística and Institut de Recerca de la Biodiversitat (IRBio), Facultat de Biologia, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
| | - Mario Garcia-Risco
- Departament de Química, Facultat de Ciències, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Cerdanyola del Vallès, Spain
| | - Veronika Pedrini-Martha
- Department of Zoology and Center for Molecular Biosciences Innsbruck (CMBI), University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Douglas J Eernisse
- Department of Biological Science, California State University Fullerton, Fullerton, CA
| | - Reinhard Dallinger
- Department of Zoology and Center for Molecular Biosciences Innsbruck (CMBI), University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Òscar Palacios
- Departament de Química, Facultat de Ciències, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Cerdanyola del Vallès, Spain
| | - Mercè Capdevila
- Departament de Química, Facultat de Ciències, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Cerdanyola del Vallès, Spain
| | - Ricard Albalat
- Departament de Genètica, Microbiologia i Estadística and Institut de Recerca de la Biodiversitat (IRBio), Facultat de Biologia, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
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11
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García-Risco M, Calatayud S, Niederwanger M, Albalat R, Palacios Ò, Capdevila M, Dallinger R. Two Unconventional Metallothioneins in the Apple Snail Pomacea bridgesii Have Lost Their Metal Specificity during Adaptation to Freshwater Habitats. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 22:ijms22010095. [PMID: 33374169 PMCID: PMC7796288 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22010095] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2020] [Revised: 12/17/2020] [Accepted: 12/18/2020] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Metallothioneins (MTs) are a diverse group of proteins responsible for the control of metal homeostasis and detoxification. To investigate the impact that environmental conditions might have had on the metal-binding abilities of these proteins, we have characterized the MTs from the apple snail Pomacea bridgesii, a gastropod species belonging to the class of Caenogastropoda with an amphibious lifestyle facing diverse situations of metal bioavailability. P. bridgesii has two structurally divergent MTs, named PbrMT1 and PbrMT2, that are longer than other gastropod MTs due to the presence of extra sequence motifs and metal-binding domains. We have characterized the Zn(II), Cd(II), and Cu(I) binding abilities of these two MTs after their heterologous expression in E. coli. Our results have revealed that despite their structural differences, both MTs share an unspecific metal-binding character, and a great ability to cope with elevated amounts of different metal ions. Our analyses have also revealed slight divergences in their metal-binding features: PbrMT1 shows a more pronounced Zn(II)-thionein character than PbrMT2, while the latter has a stronger Cu(I)-thionein character. The characterization of these two unconventional PbrMTs supports the loss of the metal-binding specificity during the evolution of the MTs of the Ampullariid family, and further suggests an evolutionary link of this loss with the adaptation of these gastropod lineages to metal-poor freshwater habitats.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mario García-Risco
- Departament de Química, Facultat de Ciències, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, E-08193 Cerdanyola del Vallès, Spain; (M.G.-R.); (Ò.P.); (M.C.)
| | - Sara Calatayud
- Departament de Genètica, Microbiologia i Estadística and Institut de Recerca de la Biodiversitat (IRBio), Facultat de Biologia, Universitat de Barcelona, Av. Diagonal 643, E-08028 Barcelona, Spain; (S.C.); (R.A.)
| | - Michael Niederwanger
- Institute of Zoology, Center of Molecular Biosciences, University of Innsbruck, Technikerstraße 25, A-6020 Innsbruck, Austria;
| | - Ricard Albalat
- Departament de Genètica, Microbiologia i Estadística and Institut de Recerca de la Biodiversitat (IRBio), Facultat de Biologia, Universitat de Barcelona, Av. Diagonal 643, E-08028 Barcelona, Spain; (S.C.); (R.A.)
| | - Òscar Palacios
- Departament de Química, Facultat de Ciències, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, E-08193 Cerdanyola del Vallès, Spain; (M.G.-R.); (Ò.P.); (M.C.)
| | - Mercè Capdevila
- Departament de Química, Facultat de Ciències, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, E-08193 Cerdanyola del Vallès, Spain; (M.G.-R.); (Ò.P.); (M.C.)
| | - Reinhard Dallinger
- Institute of Zoology, Center of Molecular Biosciences, University of Innsbruck, Technikerstraße 25, A-6020 Innsbruck, Austria;
- Correspondence:
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12
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Pedrini-Martha V, Schnegg R, Schäfer GG, Lieb B, Salvenmoser W, Dallinger R. Responsiveness of metallothionein and hemocyanin genes to cadmium and copper exposure in the garden snail Cornu aspersum. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL ZOOLOGY PART 2020; 335:228-238. [PMID: 33146003 PMCID: PMC7984241 DOI: 10.1002/jez.2425] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2020] [Accepted: 10/13/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Terrestrial gastropods express metal-selective metallothioneins (MTs) by which they handle metal ions such as Zn2+ , Cd2+ , and Cu+ /Cu2+ through separate metabolic pathways. At the same time, they depend on the availability of sufficient amounts of Cu as an essential constituent of their respiratory protein, hemocyanin (Hc). It was, therefore, suggested that in snails Cu-dependent MT and Hc pathways might be metabolically connected. In fact, the Cu-specific snail MT (CuMT) is exclusively expressed in rhogocytes, a particular molluscan cell type present in the hemocoel and connective tissues. Snail rhogocytes are also the sites of Hc synthesis. In the present study, possible interactions between the metal-regulatory and detoxifying activity of MTs and the Cu demand of Hc isoforms was explored in the edible snail Cornu aspersum, one of the most common European helicid land snails. This species possesses CdMT and CuMT isoforms involved in metal-selective physiological tasks. In addition, C. aspersum expresses three different Hc isoforms (CaH ɑD, CaH ɑN, CaH β). We have examined the effect of Cd2+ and Cu2+ exposure on metal accumulation in the midgut gland and mantle of C. aspersum, testing the impact of these metals on transcriptional upregulation of CdMT, CuMT, and the three Hc genes in the two organs. We found that the CuMT and CaH ɑD genes exhibit an organ-specific transcriptional upregulation in the midgut gland of Cu-exposed snails. These results are discussed in view of possible interrelationships between the metal-selective activity of snail MT isoforms and the synthesis and metabolism of Hc isoforms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Veronika Pedrini-Martha
- Department of Zoology and Center of Molecular Biosciences Innsbruck, University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Raimund Schnegg
- Department of Zoology and Center of Molecular Biosciences Innsbruck, University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | | | - Bernhard Lieb
- Institute of Molecular Physiology, Johannes Gutenberg-University of Mainz, Mainz, Germany
| | - Willi Salvenmoser
- Department of Zoology and Center of Molecular Biosciences Innsbruck, University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Reinhard Dallinger
- Department of Zoology and Center of Molecular Biosciences Innsbruck, University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
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13
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Radwan MA, El-Gendy KS, Gad AF. Biomarker responses in terrestrial gastropods exposed to pollutants: A comprehensive review. CHEMOSPHERE 2020; 257:127218. [PMID: 32497833 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2020.127218] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2020] [Revised: 05/23/2020] [Accepted: 05/24/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
The chemical contamination of terrestrial ecosystems is a great concern as these ecosystems are the target of most of the pollutants derived from anthropogenic activities such as pesticides, heavy metals, nanoparticles, and others. Terrestrial gastropods are considered to be excellent sentinel organisms for biological monitoring of environmental pollution, as they have the ability to accumulate chemicals in their tissues and exhibit a great potential to evaluate the ecological effects of pollutants in terrestrial ecosystems. The use of biomarkers as sensitive parameters to estimate the exposure or resulting effects of chemicals have received considerable attention. The successful biomarker must be applicable in the laboratory and field conditions. Many biomarkers have been examined to understand the adverse effects of pollutants. In this review, we shed light on different types of biomarkers, such as oxidative stress, genotoxicity and immunotoxicity as diagnostic tools for monitoring the impacts of pollution. These biomarkers can provide information about early detection and quantification of these impacts during their initial manifestations and can facilitate the implementation of a rapid preventive and/or restorative responses in the affected ecosystems, as well as single or multiple biomarkers can be integrated into routine monitoring programs.
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Affiliation(s)
- M A Radwan
- Department of Pesticide Chemistry and Technology, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Alexandria, El-Shatby, 21545, Alexandria, Egypt.
| | - K S El-Gendy
- Department of Pesticide Chemistry and Technology, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Alexandria, El-Shatby, 21545, Alexandria, Egypt
| | - A F Gad
- Department of Animal Pests, Plant Protection Research Institute, Agricultural Research Center, Alexandria, Egypt
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14
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Carpenè E, Andreani G, Ferlizza E, Menotta S, Fedrizzi G, Isani G. Trace Elements in Home-Processed Food Obtained from Unconventional Animals. Life (Basel) 2020; 10:E75. [PMID: 32456182 PMCID: PMC7281459 DOI: 10.3390/life10050075] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2020] [Revised: 05/06/2020] [Accepted: 05/21/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Wild animals have been used as food since ancient times and, currently, the consumption of unconventional animals is increasing worldwide. The process of cooking meat using traditional recipes includes a variety of ingredients, which can influence the total metal intake from the diet. In this study, the concentrations of eight essential (Fe, Zn, Cu, Mn, Se, Ni, Mo, and Co) and six non-essential (Pb, Cd, Hg, Al, As, and Cr) trace elements were determined in home-processed food obtained from snails and from three common species of game animals (woodcock, pheasant, and hare), seasoned with anchovies, mushrooms, and different vegetables using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). In general, Fe was the most abundant trace element, ranging from 18 ± 8 µg/g in pheasant to 99 ± 76 µg/g in snail, and Co was the least abundant, ranging from 0.007 ± 0.003 µg/g in hare to 0.093 ± 0.048 µg/g in snail. Regarding the non-essential trace elements, Pb concentrations showed wide variations, reaching a concentration of 17.30 µg/g in hare, while Cd concentrations were higher in snail, ranging from 0.18 to 0.46 µg/g. These alternative food sources can offer an important contribution to the human nutritional requirements of essential trace elements, in particular of Fe. The high concentrations of Pb and Cd present in some samples should be considered as potentially dangerous for the consumers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emilio Carpenè
- Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences, Alma Mater Studiorum, University of Bologna, via Tolara di sopra 50, 40064 Ozzano Emilia (BO), Italy; (E.C.); (G.I.)
| | - Giulia Andreani
- Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences, Alma Mater Studiorum, University of Bologna, via Tolara di sopra 50, 40064 Ozzano Emilia (BO), Italy; (E.C.); (G.I.)
| | - Enea Ferlizza
- Department of Experimental, Diagnostic and Specialty Medicine, Alma Mater Studiorum, University of Bologna, via Belmeloro 8, 40126 Bologna, Italy;
| | - Simonetta Menotta
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Lombardia e dell’Emilia Romagna, Chemical Department, via P. Fiorini 5, 40127 Bologna, Italy; (S.M.); (G.F.)
| | - Giorgio Fedrizzi
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Lombardia e dell’Emilia Romagna, Chemical Department, via P. Fiorini 5, 40127 Bologna, Italy; (S.M.); (G.F.)
| | - Gloria Isani
- Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences, Alma Mater Studiorum, University of Bologna, via Tolara di sopra 50, 40064 Ozzano Emilia (BO), Italy; (E.C.); (G.I.)
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15
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Cadmium Uptake, MT Gene Activation and Structure of Large-Sized Multi-Domain Metallothioneins in the Terrestrial Door Snail Alinda biplicata (Gastropoda, Clausiliidae). Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:ijms21051631. [PMID: 32120996 PMCID: PMC7084494 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21051631] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2020] [Revised: 02/20/2020] [Accepted: 02/24/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Terrestrial snails (Gastropoda) possess Cd-selective metallothioneins (CdMTs) that inactivate Cd2+ with high affinity. Most of these MTs are small Cysteine-rich proteins that bind 6 Cd2+ equivalents within two distinct metal-binding domains, with a binding stoichiometry of 3 Cd2+ ions per domain. Recently, unusually large, so-called multi-domain MTs (md-MTs) were discovered in the terrestrial door snail Alinda biplicata (A.b.). The aim of this study is to evaluate the ability of A.b. to cope with Cd stress and the potential involvement of md-MTs in its detoxification. Snails were exposed to increasing Cd concentrations, and Cd-tissue concentrations were quantified. The gene structure of two md-MTs (9md-MT and 10md-MT) was characterized, and the impact of Cd exposure on MT gene transcription was quantified via qRT PCR. A.b. efficiently accumulates Cd at moderately elevated concentrations in the feed, but avoids food uptake at excessively high Cd levels. The structure and expression of the long md-MT genes of A.b. were characterized. Although both genes are intronless, they are still transcribed, being significantly upregulated upon Cd exposure. Overall, our results contribute new knowledge regarding the metal handling of Alinda biplicata in particular, and the potential role of md-MTs in Cd detoxification of terrestrial snails, in general.
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16
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Dallinger R, Zerbe O, Baumann C, Egger B, Capdevila M, Palacios Ò, Albalat R, Calatayud S, Ladurner P, Schlick-Steiner BC, Steiner FM, Pedrini-Martha V, Lackner R, Lindner H, Dvorak M, Niederwanger M, Schnegg R, Atrian S. Metallomics reveals a persisting impact of cadmium on the evolution of metal-selective snail metallothioneins. Metallomics 2020; 12:702-720. [DOI: 10.1039/c9mt00259f] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
The tiny contribution of cadmium (Cd) to the composition of the earth's crust contrasts with its high biological significance. We suggest that in gastropod clades, the protein family of metallothioneins (MTs) has evolved to specifically detoxify Cd.
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Affiliation(s)
- Reinhard Dallinger
- Department of Zoology
- University of Innsbruck
- Austria
- Center for Molecular Biosciences Innsbruck
- Austria
| | - Oliver Zerbe
- Department of Chemistry
- University of Zürich
- Switzerland
| | | | | | - Mercé Capdevila
- Departament de Química
- Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona
- Spain
| | - Òscar Palacios
- Departament de Química
- Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona
- Spain
| | | | | | - Peter Ladurner
- Department of Zoology
- University of Innsbruck
- Austria
- Center for Molecular Biosciences Innsbruck
- Austria
| | | | | | | | | | - Herbert Lindner
- Division of Clinical Biochemistry
- Innsbruck Medical University
- Austria
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17
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Dvorak M, Schnegg R, Salvenmoser W, Palacios Ò, Lindner H, Zerbe O, Hansel A, Leiminger M, Steiner G, Dallinger R, Lackner R. Distinct pathways for zinc metabolism in the terrestrial slug Arion vulgaris. Sci Rep 2019; 9:20089. [PMID: 31882936 PMCID: PMC6934671 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-56577-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2019] [Accepted: 12/12/2019] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
In most organisms, the concentration of free Zn2+ is controlled by metallothioneins (MTs). In contrast, no significant proportions of Zn2+ are bound to MTs in the slug, Arion vulgaris. Instead, this species possesses cytoplasmic low-molecular-weight Zn2+ (LMW Zn) binding compound that divert these metal ions into pathways uncoupled from MT metabolism. Zn2+ is accumulated in the midgut gland calcium cells of Arion vulgaris, where they associate with a low-molecular-weight ligand with an apparent molecular mass of ~ 2,000 Da. Mass spectrometry of the semi-purified LMW Zn binding compound combining an electrospray ion source with a differential mobility analyser coupled to a time-of-flight mass spectrometer revealed the presence of four Zn2+-containing ion signals, which arise from disintegration of one higher MW complex resulting in an ion-mobility diameter of 1.62 nm and a molecular mass of 837 Da. We expect that the novel Zn2+ ion storage pathway may be shared by many other gastropods, and particularly species that possess Cd-selective MT isoforms or variants with only very low affinity to Zn2+.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martin Dvorak
- Institute of Zoology and Center of Molecular Biosciences, University of Innsbruck, Technikerstrasse 25, A-6020, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Raimund Schnegg
- Institute of Zoology and Center of Molecular Biosciences, University of Innsbruck, Technikerstrasse 25, A-6020, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Willy Salvenmoser
- Institute of Zoology and Center of Molecular Biosciences, University of Innsbruck, Technikerstrasse 25, A-6020, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Òscar Palacios
- Departament de Química, Facultat de Ciències, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, E-08193, Cerdanyola del Vallès, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Herbert Lindner
- Institute of Clinical Biochemistry, Biocenter, Innsbruck Medical University, Innrain 80, A-6020, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Oliver Zerbe
- Department of Chemistry, University of Zurich, 8057, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Armin Hansel
- Institute for Ion Physics and Applied Physics, University of Innsbruck, Technikerstrasse 25, A-6020, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Markus Leiminger
- Institute for Ion Physics and Applied Physics, University of Innsbruck, Technikerstrasse 25, A-6020, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Gerhard Steiner
- Institute for Ion Physics and Applied Physics, University of Innsbruck, Technikerstrasse 25, A-6020, Innsbruck, Austria
- GRIMM Aerosol Technik Ainring GmbH & Co. KG, 83404, Ainring, Germany
| | - Reinhard Dallinger
- Institute of Zoology and Center of Molecular Biosciences, University of Innsbruck, Technikerstrasse 25, A-6020, Innsbruck, Austria.
| | - Reinhard Lackner
- Institute of Zoology and Center of Molecular Biosciences, University of Innsbruck, Technikerstrasse 25, A-6020, Innsbruck, Austria.
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18
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Schmielau L, Dvorak M, Niederwanger M, Dobieszewski N, Pedrini-Martha V, Ladurner P, Pedregal JRG, Maréchal JD, Dallinger R. Differential response to Cadmium exposure by expression of a two and a three-domain metallothionein isoform in the land winkle Pomatias elegans: Valuating the marine heritage of a land snail. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2019; 648:561-571. [PMID: 30121534 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.07.426] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2018] [Revised: 07/16/2018] [Accepted: 07/30/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Through evolution, marine snails have adapted several times independently to terrestrial life. A prime example for such transitions is the adaptation to terrestrial conditions in members of the gastropod clade of Littorinoidea (Caenogastropoda). Some species of this lineage like the periwinkle (Littorina littorea), live in intertidal habitats, where they are intermittently exposed to semi-terrestrial conditions. Pomatias elegans is a close relative of Littorina littorea that has successfully colonized terrestrial habitats. Evolutionary transitions from marine to terrestrial conditions have often been fostered in marine ancestors by acquisition of physiological pre-adaptations to terrestrial life. Such pre-adaptations are based, among others, on the optimization of a wide repertoire of stress resistance mechanisms, such as the expression of metal inactivating metallothioneins (MTs). The objective of our study was to explore the Cd handling strategy in the terrestrial snail Pomatias elegans in comparison to that observed previously in Littorina littorea. After Cd exposure, the metal is accumulated mainly in the midgut gland of Pomatias elegans, in a similar way as in its marine relative. Upon Cd exposure, Pomatias elegans expresses Cd-specific MTs, as also described from Littorina littorea. In contrast to the latter species, however, the detoxification of Cd in Pomatias elegans is mediated by two different MT isoforms, one two-domain and one three-domain MT. Although the MT proteins of both species are homologous and clearly originate from one common ancestor, the three-domain MT isoform of Pomatias elegans has evolved independently from the three-domain MT of its marine counterpart, probably by addition of a third domain to the pre-existing two-domain MT. Obviously, the occurrence of homologous MT structures in both species is a hereditary character, whereas the differentiation into two distinct MT isoforms with different upregulation capacities in Pomatias elegans is an adaptive feature that probably emerged upon transition to life on land.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lara Schmielau
- Department of Zoology and Center of Molecular Biosciences Innsbruck, University of Innsbruck, Technikerstraße 25, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Martin Dvorak
- Department of Zoology and Center of Molecular Biosciences Innsbruck, University of Innsbruck, Technikerstraße 25, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Michael Niederwanger
- Department of Zoology and Center of Molecular Biosciences Innsbruck, University of Innsbruck, Technikerstraße 25, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Nicole Dobieszewski
- Department of Zoology and Center of Molecular Biosciences Innsbruck, University of Innsbruck, Technikerstraße 25, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Veronika Pedrini-Martha
- Department of Zoology and Center of Molecular Biosciences Innsbruck, University of Innsbruck, Technikerstraße 25, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Peter Ladurner
- Department of Zoology and Center of Molecular Biosciences Innsbruck, University of Innsbruck, Technikerstraße 25, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria
| | | | - Jean-Didier Maréchal
- Insilichem, Departament de Química, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193 Bellaterra, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Reinhard Dallinger
- Department of Zoology and Center of Molecular Biosciences Innsbruck, University of Innsbruck, Technikerstraße 25, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria.
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19
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Nica DV, Draghici GA, Andrica FM, Popescu S, Coricovac DE, Dehelean CA, Gergen II, Kovatsi L, Coleman MD, Tsatsakis A. Short-term effects of very low dose cadmium feeding on copper, manganese and iron homeostasis: A gastropod perspective. ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY AND PHARMACOLOGY 2019; 65:9-13. [PMID: 30468972 DOI: 10.1016/j.etap.2018.10.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2018] [Revised: 10/22/2018] [Accepted: 10/24/2018] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
The available information on the interplay between low-dose cadmium intake and copper, manganese, and iron homeostasis in invertebrates is limited. We have currently studied the accumulation of these trace metals in the hepatopancreas of adult snails, Cantareus aspersus, following 14 and 28 days of exposure to low doses of dietary cadmium, up to 1 mg/kg dw (dry weight). The cadmium dose, but not the duration of exposure, had a significant effect on hepatopancreas copper deposition, the values being significantly elevated compared to controls. A significant peak in manganese levels at 14 days was found in snails administered the lowest cadmium dose. These increases occurred even in the absence of cadmium increase in the hepatopancreas. Our data suggest that low dose cadmium feeding can produce a transient disturbance in hepatopancreas copper and manganese homeostasis. Such responses may serve as early biomarkers of physiological changes occurring during the initial stages of cadmium intoxication.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dragos V Nica
- Faculty of Pharmacy, "Victor Babes" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Timisoara, RO, 300041, P-ta Murgu Eftimie 2, Romania.
| | - George A Draghici
- Faculty of Pharmacy, "Victor Babes" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Timisoara, RO, 300041, P-ta Murgu Eftimie 2, Romania.
| | - Florina-Maria Andrica
- New Jersey Institute of Food Nutrition and Health, Rutgers University, 61 Dudley Rd, New Brunswick, NJ, 08901, USA.
| | - Sofia Popescu
- Faculty of Food Processing Technology, Banat's University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine "King Michael I of Romania" from Timisoara, Timisoara, RO, 300645, Calea Aradului 119, Romania.
| | - Dorina E Coricovac
- Faculty of Pharmacy, "Victor Babes" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Timisoara, RO, 300041, P-ta Murgu Eftimie 2, Romania.
| | - Cristina A Dehelean
- Faculty of Pharmacy, "Victor Babes" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Timisoara, RO, 300041, P-ta Murgu Eftimie 2, Romania.
| | - Iosif I Gergen
- Faculty of Food Processing Technology, Banat's University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine "King Michael I of Romania" from Timisoara, Timisoara, RO, 300645, Calea Aradului 119, Romania.
| | - Leda Kovatsi
- Laboratory of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, School of Medicine, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki 54124, Greece.
| | - Michael D Coleman
- School of Life & Health Sciences, Pharmaceutics Dept., Aston University, B4 7ET, Birmingham, England, UK.
| | - Aristidis Tsatsakis
- Department of Forensic Sciences and Toxicology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Crete, 71003 Heraklion, Crete, Greece.
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20
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Dvorak M, Lackner R, Niederwanger M, Rotondo C, Schnegg R, Ladurner P, Pedrini-Martha V, Salvenmoser W, Kremser L, Lindner H, García-Risco M, Calatayud S, Albalat R, Palacios Ò, Capdevila M, Dallinger R. Metal binding functions of metallothioneins in the slugArion vulgarisdiffer from metal-specific isoforms of terrestrial snails. Metallomics 2018; 10:1638-1654. [DOI: 10.1039/c8mt00215k] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Arion vulgarisis a European slug with a huge potential for accumulating and detoxifying heavy metals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martin Dvorak
- Institute of Zoology and Center of Molecular Biosciences, University of Innsbruck
- A-6020 Innsbruck
- Austria
| | - Reinhard Lackner
- Institute of Zoology and Center of Molecular Biosciences, University of Innsbruck
- A-6020 Innsbruck
- Austria
| | - Michael Niederwanger
- Institute of Zoology and Center of Molecular Biosciences, University of Innsbruck
- A-6020 Innsbruck
- Austria
| | - Claire Rotondo
- Institute of Zoology and Center of Molecular Biosciences, University of Innsbruck
- A-6020 Innsbruck
- Austria
| | - Raimund Schnegg
- Institute of Zoology and Center of Molecular Biosciences, University of Innsbruck
- A-6020 Innsbruck
- Austria
| | - Peter Ladurner
- Institute of Zoology and Center of Molecular Biosciences, University of Innsbruck
- A-6020 Innsbruck
- Austria
| | - Veronika Pedrini-Martha
- Institute of Zoology and Center of Molecular Biosciences, University of Innsbruck
- A-6020 Innsbruck
- Austria
| | - Willi Salvenmoser
- Institute of Zoology and Center of Molecular Biosciences, University of Innsbruck
- A-6020 Innsbruck
- Austria
| | - Leopold Kremser
- Innsbruck Medical University, Biocenter, Division of Clinical Biochemistry
- A-6020 Innsbruck
- Austria
| | - Herbert Lindner
- Innsbruck Medical University, Biocenter, Division of Clinical Biochemistry
- A-6020 Innsbruck
- Austria
| | - Mario García-Risco
- Departament de Química, Facultat de Ciències, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona
- Barcelona
- Spain
| | - Sara Calatayud
- Departament de Genètica, Microbiologia i Estadística, and Institut de Recerca de la Biodiversitat (IRBio), Universitat de Barcelona
- E-08028 Barcelona
- Spain
| | - Ricard Albalat
- Departament de Genètica, Microbiologia i Estadística, and Institut de Recerca de la Biodiversitat (IRBio), Universitat de Barcelona
- E-08028 Barcelona
- Spain
| | - Òscar Palacios
- Departament de Química, Facultat de Ciències, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona
- Barcelona
- Spain
| | - Mercè Capdevila
- Departament de Química, Facultat de Ciències, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona
- Barcelona
- Spain
| | - Reinhard Dallinger
- Institute of Zoology and Center of Molecular Biosciences, University of Innsbruck
- A-6020 Innsbruck
- Austria
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21
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Habjanič J, Zerbe O, Freisinger E. A histidine-rich Pseudomonas metallothionein with a disordered tail displays higher binding capacity for cadmium than zinc. Metallomics 2018; 10:1415-1429. [DOI: 10.1039/c8mt00193f] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
The NMR solution structure of a Pseudomonas metallothionein reveals a different binding capacity for ZnII and CdII ions that results in two novel metal-cluster topologies. Replacement of a non-coordinating residue by histidine decreases the kinetic lability of the cluster. All three structures reported show an identical protein fold.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jelena Habjanič
- Department of Chemistry
- University of Zurich
- Zurich
- Switzerland
| | - Oliver Zerbe
- Department of Chemistry
- University of Zurich
- Zurich
- Switzerland
| | - Eva Freisinger
- Department of Chemistry
- University of Zurich
- Zurich
- Switzerland
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22
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High-level dietary cadmium exposure is associated with global DNA hypermethylation in the gastropod hepatopancreas. PLoS One 2017; 12:e0184221. [PMID: 28877233 PMCID: PMC5587323 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0184221] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2017] [Accepted: 08/21/2017] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
5-methylcytosine (5mC) is a key epigenetic mark which influences gene expression and phenotype. In vertebrates, this epigenetic mark is sensitive to Cd exposure, but there is no information linking such an event with changes in global 5mC levels in terrestrial gastropods despite their importance as excellentecotoxicological bioindicators of metal contamination. Therefore, we first evaluated total 5mC content in DNA of the hepatopancreas of adult Cantareus aspersus with the aim to determine whether this epigenetic mark is responsive to Cd exposure. The experiment was conducted under laboratory conditions and involved a continuous exposure, multiple dose- and time-point (14, 28, and 56 days) study design. Hepatopancreas cadmium levels were measured using Flame Atomic Absorption Spectrometry and the percentage of 5-mC in samples using an ELISA-based colorimetric assay. Snail death rates were also assessed. Our results, for the first time, reveal the presence of 5mC in C. aspersus and provide evidence for Cd-induced changes in global 5mC levels in DNA of gastropods and mollusks. Although less sensitive than tissue accumulation, DNA methylation levels responded in a dose- and time-dependent manner to dietary cadmium, with exposure dose having a much stronger effect than exposure duration. An obvious trend of increasing 5mC levels was observed starting at 28 days of exposure to the second highest dose and this trend persisted at the two highest treatments for close to one month, when the experiment was terminated after 56 days. Moreover, a strong association was identified between Cd concentrations in the hepatopancreas and DNA methylation levels in this organ. These data indicate an overall trend towards DNA hypermethylation with elevated Cd exposure. No consistent lethal effect was observed, irrespective of time point and Cd-dosage. Overall, our findings suggest that the total 5mC content in DNA of the hepatopancreas of land snails is responsive to sublethal Cd exposure and give new insights into invertebrate environmental epigenetics.
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23
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Pedrini-Martha V, Schnegg R, Baurand PE, deVaufleury A, Dallinger R. The physiological role and toxicological significance of the non-metal-selective cadmium/copper-metallothionein isoform differ between embryonic and adult helicid snails. Comp Biochem Physiol C Toxicol Pharmacol 2017; 199:38-47. [PMID: 28254493 DOI: 10.1016/j.cbpc.2017.02.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2016] [Revised: 02/16/2017] [Accepted: 02/16/2017] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Metal regulation is essential for terrestrial gastropods to survive. In helicid snails, two metal-selective metallothionein (MT) isoforms with different functions are expressed. A cadmium-selective isoform (CdMT) plays a major role in Cd2+ detoxification and stress response, whereas a copper-selective MT (CuMT) is involved in Cu homeostasis and hemocyanin synthesis. A third, non-metal-selective isoform, called Cd/CuMT, was first characterized in Cantareus aspersus. The aim of this study was to quantify the transcriptional activity of all three MT genes in unexposed and metal-exposed (Cd, Cu) embryonic Roman snails. In addition, the complete Cd/CuMT mRNA of the Roman snail (Helix pomatia) was characterized, and its expression quantified in unexposed and Cd-treated adult individuals. In embryos of Helix pomatia, the Cd/CuMT gene was induced upon Cu exposure. Its transcription levels were many times higher than that of the other two MT genes, and also exceeded by far the Cd/CuMT mRNA concentrations of adult snails. In the hepatopancreas of adult Roman snails, no Cd/CuMT could be detected at the protein level, irrespective of whether the snails had been exposed to Cd or not. This contrasts with the situation in the near relative, Cantareus aspersus. It appeared that the 3'-UTR of the Cd/CuMT mRNA differed largely between Cantareus aspersus and Helix pomatia, being larger in the latter species, with a number of putative binding sites for proteins and miRNAs known to inhibit mRNA translation. We suggest this as a possible mechanism responsible for the lack of Cd/CuMT protein expression in adult Roman snails.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Raimund Schnegg
- Department of Zoology, University of Innsbruck, Technikerstraße 25, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Pierre-Emmanuel Baurand
- Chrono-Environnement, UMR 6249 University of Franche-Comté, 16 route de Gray, 25030 Besançon cedex, France
| | - Annette deVaufleury
- Chrono-Environnement, UMR 6249 University of Franche-Comté, 16 route de Gray, 25030 Besançon cedex, France; Department of Health Safety Environment, avenue des Rives du Lac, BP179, 70003 Vesoul cedex, France
| | - Reinhard Dallinger
- Department of Zoology, University of Innsbruck, Technikerstraße 25, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria.
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24
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Palacios Ò, Jiménez-Martí E, Niederwanger M, Gil-Moreno S, Zerbe O, Atrian S, Dallinger R, Capdevila M. Analysis of Metal-Binding Features of the Wild Type and Two Domain-Truncated Mutant Variants of Littorina littorea Metallothionein Reveals Its Cd-Specific Character. Int J Mol Sci 2017; 18:E1452. [PMID: 28684668 PMCID: PMC5535943 DOI: 10.3390/ijms18071452] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2017] [Revised: 06/27/2017] [Accepted: 07/01/2017] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
After the resolution of the 3D structure of the Cd₉-aggregate of the Littorina littorea metallothionein (MT), we report here a detailed analysis of the metal binding capabilities of the wild type MT, LlwtMT, and of two truncated mutants lacking either the N-terminal domain, Lltr2MT, or both the N-terminal domain, plus four extra flanking residues (SSVF), Lltr1MT. The recombinant synthesis and in vitro studies of these three proteins revealed that LlwtMT forms unique M₉-LlwtMT complexes with Zn(II) and Cd(II), while yielding a complex mixture of heteronuclear Zn,Cu-LlwtMT species with Cu(I). As expected, the truncated mutants gave rise to unique M₆-LltrMT complexes and Zn,Cu-LltrMT mixtures of lower stoichiometry with respect to LlwtMT, with the SSVF fragment having an influence on their metal binding performance. Our results also revealed a major specificity, and therefore a better metal-coordinating performance of the three proteins for Cd(II) than for Zn(II), although the analysis of the Zn(II)/Cd(II) displacement reaction clearly demonstrates a lack of any type of cooperativity in Cd(II) binding. Contrarily, the analysis of their Cu(I) binding abilities revealed that every LlMT domain is prone to build Cu₄-aggregates, the whole MT working by modules analogously to, as previously described, certain fungal MTs, like those of C. neoformans and T. mesenterica. It is concluded that the Littorina littorea MT is a Cd-specific protein that (beyond its extended binding capacity through an additional Cd-binding domain) confers to Littorina littorea a particular adaptive advantage in its changeable marine habitat.
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Affiliation(s)
- Òscar Palacios
- Departament de Química, Facultat de Ciències, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, E-08193 Cerdanyola del Vallès, Spain.
| | - Elena Jiménez-Martí
- Departament de Genètica, Facultat de Biologia, Universitat de Barcelona, Av. Diagonal 643, E-08028 Barcelona, Spain.
| | - Michael Niederwanger
- Institute of Zoology and Center of Molecular Biosciences Innsbruck (CMBI), University of Innsbruck, Technikerstraße 25, A-6020 Innsbruck, Austria.
| | - Selene Gil-Moreno
- Departament de Química, Facultat de Ciències, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, E-08193 Cerdanyola del Vallès, Spain.
| | - Oliver Zerbe
- Department of Chemistry, University of Zurich, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland.
| | - Sílvia Atrian
- Departament de Genètica, Facultat de Biologia, Universitat de Barcelona, Av. Diagonal 643, E-08028 Barcelona, Spain.
| | - Reinhard Dallinger
- Institute of Zoology and Center of Molecular Biosciences Innsbruck (CMBI), University of Innsbruck, Technikerstraße 25, A-6020 Innsbruck, Austria.
| | - Mercè Capdevila
- Departament de Química, Facultat de Ciències, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, E-08193 Cerdanyola del Vallès, Spain.
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25
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Biomphalaria glabrata Metallothionein: Lacking Metal Specificity of the Protein and Missing Gene Upregulation Suggest Metal Sequestration by Exchange Instead of through Selective Binding. Int J Mol Sci 2017; 18:ijms18071457. [PMID: 28684706 PMCID: PMC5535948 DOI: 10.3390/ijms18071457] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2017] [Revised: 06/29/2017] [Accepted: 07/01/2017] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The wild-type metallothionein (MT) of the freshwater snail Biomphalaria glabrata and a natural allelic mutant of it in which a lysine residue was replaced by an asparagine residue, were recombinantly expressed and analyzed for their metal-binding features with respect to Cd2+, Zn2+ and Cu⁺, applying spectroscopic and mass-spectrometric methods. In addition, the upregulation of the Biomphalaria glabrataMT gene was assessed by quantitative real-time detection PCR. The two recombinant proteins revealed to be very similar in most of their metal binding features. They lacked a clear metal-binding preference for any of the three metal ions assayed-which, to this degree, is clearly unprecedented in the world of Gastropoda MTs. There were, however, slight differences in copper-binding abilities between the two allelic variants. Overall, the missing metal specificity of the two recombinant MTs goes hand in hand with lacking upregulation of the respective MT gene. This suggests that in vivo, the Biomphalaria glabrata MT may be more important for metal replacement reactions through a constitutively abundant form, rather than for metal sequestration by high binding specificity. There are indications that the MT of Biomphalaria glabrata may share its unspecific features with MTs from other freshwater snails of the Hygrophila family.
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26
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Nica D, Popescu C, Draghici G, Privistirescu I, Suciu M, Stöger R. Effect of cadmium on cytosine hydroxymethylation in gastropod hepatopancreas. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2017; 24:15187-15195. [PMID: 28497329 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-017-9104-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2017] [Accepted: 04/24/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
5-Hydroxymethylcytosine (5hmC) is an important, yet poorly understood epigenetic DNA modification, especially in invertebrates. Aberrant genome-wide 5hmC levels have been associated with cadmium (Cd) exposure in humans, but such information is lacking for invertebrate bioindicators. Here, we aimed to determine whether this epigenetic mark is present in DNA of the hepatopancreas of the land snail Cantareus aspersus and is responsive to Cd exposure. Adult snails were reared under laboratory conditions and exposed to graded amounts of dietary cadmium for 14 days. Weight gain was used as a sublethal endpoint, whereas survival as a lethal endpoint. Our results are the first to provide evidence for the presence of 5hmC in DNA of terrestrial mollusks; 5hmC levels are generally low with the measured values falling below 0.03%. This is also the first study to investigate the interplay of Cd with DNA hydroxymethylation levels in a non-human animal study system. Cadmium retention in the hepatopancreas of C. aspersus increased from a dietary Cd dose of 1 milligram per kilogram dry weight (mg/kg d. wt). For the same treatment, we identified the only significant elevation in percentage of samples with detectable 5hmC levels despite the lack of significant mortalities and changes in weight gain among treatment groups. These findings indicate that 5hmC is an epigenetic mark that may be responsive to Cd exposure, thereby opening a new aspect to invertebrate environmental epigenetics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dragos Nica
- Faculty of Pharmacy, "Victor Babes" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, P-ta Murgu Eftimie 2, RO 300041, Timisoara, Romania.
- Institute of Life Sciences, "Vasile Goldis" Western University of Arad, Str. Liviu Rebreanu 86, RO 310045, Arad, Romania.
| | - Cristina Popescu
- Institute of Life Sciences, "Vasile Goldis" Western University of Arad, Str. Liviu Rebreanu 86, RO 310045, Arad, Romania
- Faculty of Pharmacy, "Vasile Goldis" Western University of Arad, Str. Liviu Rebreanu 86, RO 310045, Arad, Romania
| | - George Draghici
- Institute of Life Sciences, "Vasile Goldis" Western University of Arad, Str. Liviu Rebreanu 86, RO 310045, Arad, Romania
| | - Ionela Privistirescu
- Faculty of Medicine, "Victor Babes" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, P-ta Murgu Eftimie 2, RO 300041, Timisoara, Romania
| | - Maria Suciu
- Faculty of Pharmacy, "Victor Babes" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, P-ta Murgu Eftimie 2, RO 300041, Timisoara, Romania
- "Babes-Bolyai" University, Str. Mihail Kogalniceanu1, RO 400084, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Reinhard Stöger
- School of Biosciences, University of Nottingham, Sutton Bonington, Leicestershire, LE12 5RD, UK
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27
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Šrut M, Drechsel V, Höckner M. Low levels of Cd induce persisting epigenetic modifications and acclimation mechanisms in the earthworm Lumbricus terrestris. PLoS One 2017; 12:e0176047. [PMID: 28426746 PMCID: PMC5398608 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0176047] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2017] [Accepted: 04/04/2017] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Toxic effects of cadmium (Cd), a common soil pollutant, are still not very well understood, particularly in regard to its epigenetic impact. Therefore, the aim of this study was to assess DNA methylation changes and their persistence in the earthworm Lumbricus terrestris upon chronic low dose Cd exposure using methylation sensitive amplification polymorphism (MSAP). Moreover, the biomarker response and fitness of the earthworms, as well as the expression of detoxification-related genes (metallothionein (MT) and phytochelatin synthase (PCS)) was evaluated. Low levels of Cd caused an increase in genome-wide DNA methylation, which remained partly modified, even after several months of recovery in unpolluted soil. Increased cellular stress seemed to decrease after two weeks of exposure whereas fitness parameters remained unaffected by Cd, probably as a result from the activation of detoxification mechanisms like the expression of MTs. Interestingly, even though the level of Cd exposure was very low, MT expression levels indicate the development of acclimation mechanisms. Taken together, this study demonstrates that acclimation, as well as epigenetic modifications can occur already in moderately polluted environments. In addition, these effects can have long-lasting impacts on key species of soil invertebrates and might persist long after the actual heavy metal challenge has passed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maja Šrut
- Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, University of Zagreb, Rooseveltov trg 6, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Victoria Drechsel
- Department of Ecophysiology, Institute of Zoology, University of Innsbruck, Center for Molecular Biosciences, Technikerstr. 25, A-6020 Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Martina Höckner
- Department of Ecophysiology, Institute of Zoology, University of Innsbruck, Center for Molecular Biosciences, Technikerstr. 25, A-6020 Innsbruck, Austria
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28
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Baumann C, Beil A, Jurt S, Niederwanger M, Palacios O, Capdevila M, Atrian S, Dallinger R, Zerbe O. Strukturanpassung eines Proteins an Metallbelastung: NMR-Struktur eines marinen Schnecken-Metallothioneins mit einer zusätzlichen Domäne. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2017. [DOI: 10.1002/ange.201611873] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Christian Baumann
- Institut für Chemie; Universität Zürich; Winterthurerstrasse 190 8057 Zürich Schweiz
| | - Andrea Beil
- Institut für Chemie; Universität Zürich; Winterthurerstrasse 190 8057 Zürich Schweiz
| | - Simon Jurt
- Institut für Chemie; Universität Zürich; Winterthurerstrasse 190 8057 Zürich Schweiz
| | - Michael Niederwanger
- Institut für Zoologie und Forschungsschwerpunkt für Molekulare Biowissenschaften; Universität Innsbruck; Technikerstraße 25 6020 Innsbruck Österreich
| | - Oscar Palacios
- Departament de Química; Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona; Spanien
| | - Mercè Capdevila
- Departament de Química; Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona; Spanien
| | - Sílvia Atrian
- Department of Genetics, Microbiology and Statistics; Faculty of Biology; University of Barcelona; Spanien
| | - Reinhard Dallinger
- Institut für Zoologie und Forschungsschwerpunkt für Molekulare Biowissenschaften; Universität Innsbruck; Technikerstraße 25 6020 Innsbruck Österreich
| | - Oliver Zerbe
- Institut für Chemie; Universität Zürich; Winterthurerstrasse 190 8057 Zürich Schweiz
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29
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Baumann C, Beil A, Jurt S, Niederwanger M, Palacios O, Capdevila M, Atrian S, Dallinger R, Zerbe O. Structural Adaptation of a Protein to Increased Metal Stress: NMR Structure of a Marine Snail Metallothionein with an Additional Domain. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2017; 56:4617-4622. [DOI: 10.1002/anie.201611873] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2016] [Revised: 02/03/2017] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Christian Baumann
- Department of Chemistry; University of Zurich; Winterthurerstrasse 190 8057 Zurich Switzerland
| | - Andrea Beil
- Department of Chemistry; University of Zurich; Winterthurerstrasse 190 8057 Zurich Switzerland
| | - Simon Jurt
- Department of Chemistry; University of Zurich; Winterthurerstrasse 190 8057 Zurich Switzerland
| | - Michael Niederwanger
- Institute of Zoology and Center for Molecular Biosciences; University of Innsbruck; Technikerstrasse 25 6020 Innsbruck Austria
| | - Oscar Palacios
- Departament de Química; Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona; 08193 Cerdanyola del Vallès Barcelona Spain
| | - Mercè Capdevila
- Departament de Química; Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona; 08193 Cerdanyola del Vallès Barcelona Spain
| | - Sílvia Atrian
- Department of Genetics, Microbiology and Statistics; Faculty of Biology; University of Barcelona; Av. Diagonal 643 08028 Barcelona Spain
| | - Reinhard Dallinger
- Institute of Zoology and Center for Molecular Biosciences; University of Innsbruck; Technikerstrasse 25 6020 Innsbruck Austria
| | - Oliver Zerbe
- Department of Chemistry; University of Zurich; Winterthurerstrasse 190 8057 Zurich Switzerland
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30
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Leomanni A, Schettino T, Calisi A, Lionetto MG. Mercury induced haemocyte alterations in the terrestrial snail Cantareus apertus as novel biomarker. Comp Biochem Physiol C Toxicol Pharmacol 2016; 183-184:20-7. [PMID: 26811906 DOI: 10.1016/j.cbpc.2016.01.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2015] [Revised: 12/18/2015] [Accepted: 01/21/2016] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
The aim of the present work was to study the response of a suite of cellular and biochemical markers in the terrestrial snail Cantareus apertus exposed to mercury in view of future use as sensitive tool suitable for mercury polluted soil monitoring and assessment. Besides standardized biomarkers (metallothionein, acetylcholinesterase, and lysosomal membrane stability) novel cellular biomarkers on haemolymph cells were analyzed, including changes in the spread cells/round cells ratio and haemocyte morphometric alterations. The animals were exposed for 14 days to Lactuca sativa soaked for 1h in HgCl2 solutions (0.5 e 1 μM). The temporal dynamics of the responses were assessed by measurements at 3, 7 and 14 days. Following exposure to HgCl2 a significant alteration in the relative frequencies of round cells and spread cells was evident, with a time and dose-dependent increase of the frequencies of round cells with respect to spread cells. These changes were accompanied by cellular morphometric alterations. Concomitantly, a high correspondence between these cellular responses and metallothionein tissutal concentration, lysosomal membrane stability and inhibition of AChE was evident. The study highlights the usefulness of the terrestrial snail C. apertus as bioindicator organism for mercury pollution biomonitoring and, in particular, the use of haemocyte alterations as a suitable biomarker of pollutant effect to be included in a multibiomarker strategy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessandro Leomanni
- Dept. of Biological and Environmental Science and Technologies (DiSTeBa), Via Prov.le Lecce-Monteroni, 73100 Lecce, Italy
| | - Trifone Schettino
- Dept. of Biological and Environmental Science and Technologies (DiSTeBa), Via Prov.le Lecce-Monteroni, 73100 Lecce, Italy
| | - Antonio Calisi
- Dept. of Biological and Environmental Science and Technologies (DiSTeBa), Via Prov.le Lecce-Monteroni, 73100 Lecce, Italy
| | - Maria Giulia Lionetto
- Dept. of Biological and Environmental Science and Technologies (DiSTeBa), Via Prov.le Lecce-Monteroni, 73100 Lecce, Italy.
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31
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Gimbert F, Perrier F, Caire AL, de Vaufleury A. Mercury toxicity to terrestrial snails in a partial life cycle experiment. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2016; 23:3165-3175. [PMID: 26507730 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-015-5632-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2015] [Accepted: 10/18/2015] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
Despite growing concerns about the potential adverse effects of elevated mercury (Hg) concentrations in the terrestrial environment, only a few toxicity data are available for soil invertebrates. The chronic toxicity of inorganic Hg-Hg(II)--through food or soil contaminations was therefore assessed for the snail Cantareus aspersus, a well-recognized soil quality bioindicator. The 28-day EC50s (the concentrations causing 50% effect) for the snail growth were 600 and 5048 mg Hg kg(-1) for food and soil, respectively. A survey of growth over its entire duration (91 days) allowed to show that the effects took place rapidly after the beginning of exposure and persisted in the long term. Reproduction was also impaired, and we established 28-day EC50s for sexual maturation and fecundity of 831 and 339 mg Hg kg(-1), respectively, for food and 1719 and 53 mg Hg kg(-1), respectively, for soil. Total Hg analyses in snails exposed to contaminated matrices revealed important bioaccumulation capacities up to 2000 mg Hg kg(-1) viscera. Critical limits in internal Hg concentration of about 500 and 1000 mg Hg kg(-1) were determined as thresholds for the induction of growth toxicity through food and soil exposure, respectively. These different values underlined differences in the uptake and toxicological dynamics of Hg according to its bioavailability in the source of exposure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Frédéric Gimbert
- UMR CNRS 6249 Chrono-Environment, University of Bourgogne Franche-Comté, Route de Gray, 25030, Besançon Cedex, France.
| | - Fanny Perrier
- UMR CNRS 5805 EPOC-OASU, Station Marine d'Arcachon, Université de Bordeaux, 2 Rue du Professeur Jolyet, 33120, Arcachon Cedex, France
| | - Ange-Lyne Caire
- UMR CNRS 6249 Chrono-Environment, University of Bourgogne Franche-Comté, Route de Gray, 25030, Besançon Cedex, France
| | - Annette de Vaufleury
- UMR CNRS 6249 Chrono-Environment, University of Bourgogne Franche-Comté, Route de Gray, 25030, Besançon Cedex, France
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32
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Baurand PE, Dallinger R, Capelli N, de Vaufleury A. Metallothionein gene expression in embryos of the terrestrial snail (Cantareus aspersus) exposed to cadmium and copper in the Bordeaux mixture. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2016; 23:3068-3072. [PMID: 26514570 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-015-5649-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2015] [Accepted: 10/19/2015] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
The response specificity of three metallothionein (MT) genes (CdMT, CuMT and Cd/CuMT) was assessed after long-term exposure (20 days) of Cantareus aspersus eggs to cadmium (Cd) (2 to 6 mg/L) or to the fungicide Bordeaux mixture (BM) (2.5 and 7.5 g/L). MT gene expression measured by quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) revealed that in the unexposed embryos, the transcript levels of the three MT genes decreased significantly through embryonic development. However, the CdMT gene was strongly upregulated with increasing Cd exposure concentration, whereas the transcript levels of the other two genes increased less pronouncedly, but significantly above an exposure concentration of 4 mg Cd/L. Upon exposure to BM, all three MT genes were significantly upregulated above a BM concentration of 2.5 g/L. It is concluded that long-term Cd exposure in hatched snails induced patterns of MT gene expression that differed from those obtained after short-term exposure (24 h).
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Affiliation(s)
- Pierre-Emmanuel Baurand
- Chrono-Environnement, UMR 6249 University of Bourgogne Franche-Comté, 16 route de Gray, 25000, Besançon, France
| | - Reinhard Dallinger
- Institute of Zoology, University of Innsbruck, Technikerstraße 25, 6020, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Nicolas Capelli
- Chrono-Environnement, UMR 6249 University of Bourgogne Franche-Comté, 16 route de Gray, 25000, Besançon, France
| | - Annette de Vaufleury
- Chrono-Environnement, UMR 6249 University of Bourgogne Franche-Comté, 16 route de Gray, 25000, Besançon, France.
- Department of Health Safety Environment, avenue des Rives du Lac, BP179, 70003, Vesoul cedex, France.
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Baurand PE, Dallinger R, Niederwanger M, Capelli N, Pedrini-Martha V, de Vaufleury A. Differential sensitivity of snail embryos to cadmium: relation to age and metallothionein gene expression. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2016; 23:3062-3067. [PMID: 26341338 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-015-5320-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2015] [Accepted: 08/25/2015] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
The aim of this study was to determine whether cadmium (Cd) sensitivity of Cantareus aspersus embryos is age-dependent and influenced by metallothionein (MT) gene expression. Hatching success and the expression of three MT isoform genes (Ca-CdMT, Ca-CuMT and Ca-Cd/CuMT) were measured in embryos exposed to increasing Cd concentrations for 24 h starting on the sixth day of development. Isoform gene expression was quantified on days 7 and 12 after exposure. Results were compared to those of embryos exposed to the same conditions as above, but from the beginning of embryogenesis (day 0). Transcription of the Cd-specific MT gene (Ca-CdMT) was observed from the first day of development, whereas the two other genes did not respond to Cd at all. Overall, Cd sensitivity of embryos decreased with increasing age of development, as assessed by age-dependent increase of EC50 values for hatching rate, and increasing Cd threshold concentrations for Ca-CdMT expression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pierre-Emmanuel Baurand
- Chrono-Environnement, UMR 6249 University of Bourgogne Franche-Comté, 16 route de Gray, 25000, Besançon, France
| | - Reinhard Dallinger
- Institute of Zoology, University of Innsbruck, Technikerstraße 25, 6020, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Michael Niederwanger
- Institute of Zoology, University of Innsbruck, Technikerstraße 25, 6020, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Nicolas Capelli
- Chrono-Environnement, UMR 6249 University of Bourgogne Franche-Comté, 16 route de Gray, 25000, Besançon, France
| | | | - Annette de Vaufleury
- Chrono-Environnement, UMR 6249 University of Bourgogne Franche-Comté, 16 route de Gray, 25000, Besançon, France.
- Department of Health Safety Environment, avenue des Rives du Lac, BP179, 70003, Vesoul cedex, France.
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Pauget B, Gimbert F, Coeurdassier M, Druart C, Crini N, de Vaufleury A. How contamination sources and soil properties can influence the Cd and Pb bioavailability to snails. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2016; 23:2987-96. [PMID: 26555881 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-015-5765-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2015] [Accepted: 11/04/2015] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
To better understand the fate of metals in the environment, numerous parameters must be studied, such as the soil properties and the different sources of contamination for the organisms. Among bioindicators of soil quality, the garden snail (Cantareus aspersus) integrates multiple sources (e.g. soil, plant) and routes (e.g. digestive, cutaneous) of contamination. However, the contribution of each source on metal bioavailability and how soil properties influence these contributions have never been studied when considering the dynamic process of bioavailability. Using accumulation kinetics, this study showed that the main assimilation source of Cd was lettuce (68%), whereas the main source of Pb was the soil (90%). The plant contribution increased in response to a 2-unit soil pH decrease. Unexpectedly, an increase in the soil contribution to metal assimilation accompanied an increase in the organic matter (OM) content of the soil. For both metals, no significant excretion and influence of source on excretion have been modelled either during exposure or depuration. This study highlights how the contribution of different sources to metal bioavailability changes based on changes in soil parameters, such as pH and OM, and the complexity of the processes that modulate metal bioavailability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benjamin Pauget
- Department of Chrono-Environment, University of Franche-Comte, UMR UFC/CNRS 6249 USC INRA, 16 route de Gray, F-25030, Besancon Cedex, France.
| | - Frédéric Gimbert
- Department of Chrono-Environment, University of Franche-Comte, UMR UFC/CNRS 6249 USC INRA, 16 route de Gray, F-25030, Besancon Cedex, France
| | - Mickael Coeurdassier
- Department of Chrono-Environment, University of Franche-Comte, UMR UFC/CNRS 6249 USC INRA, 16 route de Gray, F-25030, Besancon Cedex, France
| | - Coline Druart
- Department of Chrono-Environment, University of Franche-Comte, UMR UFC/CNRS 6249 USC INRA, 16 route de Gray, F-25030, Besancon Cedex, France
| | - Nadia Crini
- Department of Chrono-Environment, University of Franche-Comte, UMR UFC/CNRS 6249 USC INRA, 16 route de Gray, F-25030, Besancon Cedex, France
| | - Annette de Vaufleury
- Department of Chrono-Environment, University of Franche-Comte, UMR UFC/CNRS 6249 USC INRA, 16 route de Gray, F-25030, Besancon Cedex, France
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Sandbichler AM, Höckner M. Cadmium Protection Strategies--A Hidden Trade-Off? Int J Mol Sci 2016; 17:ijms17010139. [PMID: 26805823 PMCID: PMC4730378 DOI: 10.3390/ijms17010139] [Citation(s) in RCA: 73] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2015] [Revised: 01/15/2016] [Accepted: 01/18/2016] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Cadmium (Cd) is a non-essential transition metal which is introduced into the biosphere by various anthropogenic activities. Environmental pollution with Cd poses a major health risk and Cd toxicity has been extensively researched over the past decades. This review aims at changing the perspective by discussing protection mechanisms available to counteract a Cd insult. Antioxidants, induction of antioxidant enzymes, and complexation of Cd to glutathione (GSH) and metallothionein (MT) are the most potent protective measures to cope with Cd-induced oxidative stress. Furthermore, protection mechanisms include prevention of endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress, mitophagy and metabolic stress, as well as expression of chaperones. Pre-exposure to Cd itself, or co-exposure to other metals or trace elements can improve viability under Cd exposure and cells have means to reduce Cd uptake and improve Cd removal. Finally, environmental factors have negative or positive effects on Cd toxicity. Most protection mechanisms aim at preventing cellular damage. However, this might not be possible without trade-offs like an increased risk of carcinogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Martina Höckner
- University of Innsbruck, Institute of Zoology, Technikerstraße 25, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria.
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Earthworm Lumbricus rubellus MT-2: Metal Binding and Protein Folding of a True Cadmium-MT. Int J Mol Sci 2016; 17:ijms17010065. [PMID: 26742040 PMCID: PMC4730310 DOI: 10.3390/ijms17010065] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2015] [Revised: 12/18/2015] [Accepted: 12/24/2015] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Earthworms express, as most animals, metallothioneins (MTs)—small, cysteine-rich proteins that bind d10 metal ions (Zn(II), Cd(II), or Cu(I)) in clusters. Three MT homologues are known for Lumbricus rubellus, the common red earthworm, one of which, wMT-2, is strongly induced by exposure of worms to cadmium. This study concerns composition, metal binding affinity and metal-dependent protein folding of wMT-2 expressed recombinantly and purified in the presence of Cd(II) and Zn(II). Crucially, whilst a single Cd7wMT-2 species was isolated from wMT-2-expressing E. coli cultures supplemented with Cd(II), expressions in the presence of Zn(II) yielded mixtures. The average affinities of wMT-2 determined for either Cd(II) or Zn(II) are both within normal ranges for MTs; hence, differential behaviour cannot be explained on the basis of overall affinity. Therefore, the protein folding properties of Cd- and Zn-wMT-2 were compared by 1H NMR spectroscopy. This comparison revealed that the protein fold is better defined in the presence of cadmium than in the presence of zinc. These differences in folding and dynamics may be at the root of the differential behaviour of the cadmium- and zinc-bound protein in vitro, and may ultimately also help in distinguishing zinc and cadmium in the earthworm in vivo.
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Baurand PE, Capelli N, de Vaufleury A. Genotoxicity assessment of pesticides on terrestrial snail embryos by analysis of random amplified polymorphic DNA profiles. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2015; 298:320-7. [PMID: 26160746 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2015.05.051] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2015] [Revised: 03/30/2015] [Accepted: 05/29/2015] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
The study explores the relevance of coupling Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA (RAPD) and a High-Resolution capillary electrophoresis System (HRS) method for assessing the genotoxic potential of the wide variety commercial formulations of pesticides. Using this technique, the genotoxic potential of a glyphosate-based herbicide (Roundup Flash(®) (RU)) and two fungicide formulations based on tebuconazole and copper (Corail(®) and Bordeaux mixture (BM), respectively) was evaluated on terrestrial snail embryos. Clutches of Cantareus aspersus were exposed during their entire embryonic development to a range of concentration around the EC50 values (based on hatching success) for each compound tested. Three primers were used for the RAPD amplifications of pesticides samples. RAPD-HRS revealed concentration-dependent modifications in profiles generated with the three primers in RU(®)-exposed embryos from 30 mg/L glyphosate. For Corail(®)-exposed embryos, only two of the three primers were able to show alterations in profiles from 0.05 mg/L tebuconazole. For BM-exposed embryos, no signs of genotoxicity were observed. All changes observed in amplification profiles have been detected at concentrations lower than the recommended doses for vineyard field applications. Our study demonstrates the efficiency of coupling RAPD and HRS to efficiently screen the effect of pesticide formulations on DNA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pierre-Emmanuel Baurand
- Chrono-Environment, UMR 6249 University of Bourgogne Franche-Comté/CNRS, 16 Route de Gray, 25030 Besançon Cedex, France.
| | - Nicolas Capelli
- Chrono-Environment, UMR 6249 University of Bourgogne Franche-Comté/CNRS, 16 Route de Gray, 25030 Besançon Cedex, France
| | - Annette de Vaufleury
- Chrono-Environment, UMR 6249 University of Bourgogne Franche-Comté/CNRS, 16 Route de Gray, 25030 Besançon Cedex, France; Department of Health Safety Environment, Avenue Des Rives du Lac, BP179, 70003 Vesoul Cedex, France
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Baurand PE, Pedrini-Martha V, de Vaufleury A, Niederwanger M, Capelli N, Scheifler R, Dallinger R. Differential expression of metallothionein isoforms in terrestrial snail embryos reflects early life stage adaptation to metal stress. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0116004. [PMID: 25706953 PMCID: PMC4338057 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0116004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2014] [Accepted: 12/03/2014] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The aim of this study was to analyze the expression of three metallothionein (MT) isoform genes (CdMT, CuMT and Cd/CuMT), already known from adults, in the Early Life Stage (ELS) of Cantareus aspersus. This was accomplished by detection of the MT isoform-specific transcription adopting Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) amplification and quantitative Real Time (qRT)-PCR of the three MT genes. Freshly laid eggs were kept for 24 hours under control conditions or exposed to three cadmium (Cd) solutions of increasing concentration (5, 10, and 15 mg Cd/L). The transcription of the three MT isoform genes was detected via PCR in 1, 6 and 12-day-old control or Cd-exposed embryos. Moreover, the transcription of this isoform genes during development was followed by qRT-PCR in 6 and 12-day-old embryos. Our results showed that the CdMT and Cd/CuMT genes, but not the CuMT gene, are expressed in embryos at the first day of development. The transcription of the 3 MT genes in control embryos increased with development time, suggesting that the capacities of metal regulation and detoxification may have gradually increased throughout embryogenesis. However in control embryos, the most highly expressed MT gene was that of the Cd/CuMT isoform, whose transcription levels greatly exceeded those of the other two MT genes. This contrasts with the minor significance of this gene in adult snails and suggests that in embryos, this isoform may play a comparatively more important role in metal physiology compared to adult individuals. This function in adult snails appears not to be related to Cd detoxification. Instead, snail embryos responded to Cd exposure by over-expression of the CdMT gene in a concentration-dependent manner, whereas the expression of the Cd/CuMT gene remained unaffected. Moreover, our study demonstrates the ability of snail embryos to respond very early to Cd exposure by up-regulation of the CdMT gene.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pierre-Emmanuel Baurand
- Chrono-Environnement, UMR 6249 University of Franche-Comté, 16 route de Gray, 25030, Besançon cedex, France
| | - Veronika Pedrini-Martha
- Institute of Zoology, University of Innsbruck, Technikerstraße 25, A-6020, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Annette de Vaufleury
- Chrono-Environnement, UMR 6249 University of Franche-Comté, 16 route de Gray, 25030, Besançon cedex, France
- Department of Health Safety Environment, avenue des Rives du Lac, BP179, 70003, Vesoul cedex, France
- * E-mail:
| | - Michael Niederwanger
- Institute of Zoology, University of Innsbruck, Technikerstraße 25, A-6020, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Nicolas Capelli
- Chrono-Environnement, UMR 6249 University of Franche-Comté, 16 route de Gray, 25030, Besançon cedex, France
| | - Renaud Scheifler
- Chrono-Environnement, UMR 6249 University of Franche-Comté, 16 route de Gray, 25030, Besançon cedex, France
| | - Reinhard Dallinger
- Institute of Zoology, University of Innsbruck, Technikerstraße 25, A-6020, Innsbruck, Austria
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Baurand PE, Capelli N, Scheifler R, de Vaufleury A. An assessment of the embryotoxicity of cadmium in the terrestrial mollusk Cantareus aspersus: from bioaccumulation to impacts at different levels of biological organization. ECOTOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY 2014; 110:89-94. [PMID: 25199587 DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2014.08.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2014] [Revised: 08/09/2014] [Accepted: 08/13/2014] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
This study aims to determine various parameters that allow the evaluation of the toxicity of chemicals to embryos of the ubiquitous land snail Cantareus aspersus. For this purpose, we investigated morphological and physiological endpoints in control embryos and in embryos exposed to a solution of 6mg Cd/L (CdCl2) in a liquid phase bioassay: size at days 3, 6 and 10, heart rate at 7 days, delay in hatching, states of development of non-hatched eggs after 17 days and the fresh mass of newly hatched embryos. The kinetics of Cd accumulation in eggs and DNA fragmentation were also measured. The first detectable sign of adverse effects appeared after 7 days of development, when the heart rate decreased in Cd-exposed embryos compared with the control. After 10 days of exposure, Cd-exposed hatchlings exhibited a lower fresh mass than control individuals. The majority (75 percent) of non-hatched embryos at 17 days was dead and presented signs of disaggregation or malformations. The hatching of Cd-exposed eggs was delayed 4 days, and DNA fragmentation was later detected after 20 days of Cd exposure. The measurement of Cd in the eggs showed that concentrations are relatively stable during the exposure period from 3 days (20-27µg Cd/g DW) to the end of exposure. The present study completes the range of endpoints that can be used to study the effects of contaminants and provides new parameters that are readily measured throughout the embryonic development of a terrestrial mollusk.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pierre-Emmanuel Baurand
- Chrono-Environment, UMR 6249 University of Franche-Comté/CNRS, 16 route de Gray, 25030 Besançon cedex, France
| | - Nicolas Capelli
- Chrono-Environment, UMR 6249 University of Franche-Comté/CNRS, 16 route de Gray, 25030 Besançon cedex, France
| | - Renaud Scheifler
- Chrono-Environment, UMR 6249 University of Franche-Comté/CNRS, 16 route de Gray, 25030 Besançon cedex, France
| | - Annette de Vaufleury
- Chrono-Environment, UMR 6249 University of Franche-Comté/CNRS, 16 route de Gray, 25030 Besançon cedex, France; Department of Health Safety Environment, avenue des Rives du Lac, BP179, 70003 Vesoul cedex, France.
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40
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Cantareus aspersus metallothionein metal binding abilities: The unspecific CaCd/CuMT isoform provides hints about the metal preference determinants in metallothioneins. BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA-PROTEINS AND PROTEOMICS 2014; 1844:1694-707. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bbapap.2014.06.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2014] [Revised: 06/19/2014] [Accepted: 06/20/2014] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
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Isani G, Carpenè E. Metallothioneins, unconventional proteins from unconventional animals: a long journey from nematodes to mammals. Biomolecules 2014; 4:435-57. [PMID: 24970224 PMCID: PMC4101491 DOI: 10.3390/biom4020435] [Citation(s) in RCA: 76] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2014] [Revised: 03/19/2014] [Accepted: 03/21/2014] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Metallothioneins (MTs) are ubiquitous low molecular weight cysteine-rich proteins characterized by high affinity for d10 electron configuration metals, including essential (Zn and Cu) and non-essential (Cd and Hg) trace elements. The biological role of these ancient and well-conserved multifunctional proteins has been debated since MTs were first discovered in 1957. Their main hypothesized functions are: (1) homeostasis of Zn and Cu; (2) detoxification of Cd, and Hg; and (3) free radical scavenging. This review will focus on MTs in unconventional animals, those not traditionally studied in veterinary medicine but of increasing interest in this field of research. Living in different environments, these animals represent an incredible source of physiological and biochemical adaptations still partly unexplored. The study of metal-MT interactions is of great interest for clinicians and researchers working in veterinary medicine, food quality and endangered species conservation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gloria Isani
- Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences, Alma Mater Studiorum-University of Bologna, via Tolara di sopra, 50, Ozzano Emilia, Bologna 40064, Italy.
| | - Emilio Carpenè
- Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences, Alma Mater Studiorum-University of Bologna, via Tolara di sopra, 50, Ozzano Emilia, Bologna 40064, Italy.
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Cognate and noncognate metal ion coordination in metal-specific metallothioneins: the Helix pomatia system as a model. J Biol Inorg Chem 2014; 19:923-35. [DOI: 10.1007/s00775-014-1127-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2013] [Accepted: 03/10/2014] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
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Nica DV, Bordean DM, Borozan AB, Gergen I, Bura M, Banatean-Dunea I. Use of land snails (pulmonata) for monitoring copper pollution in terrestrial ecosystems. REVIEWS OF ENVIRONMENTAL CONTAMINATION AND TOXICOLOGY 2013; 225:95-137. [PMID: 23494558 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-4614-6470-9_4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Dragos V Nica
- Faculty of Animal Sciences and Biotechnologies, Banat's University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine, C. Aradului 119, 300645, Timisoara, Romania,
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Ragusa MA, Costa S, Gianguzza M, Roccheri MC, Gianguzza F. Effects of cadmium exposure on sea urchin development assessed by SSH and RT-qPCR: metallothionein genes and their differential induction. Mol Biol Rep 2012; 40:2157-67. [DOI: 10.1007/s11033-012-2275-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2012] [Accepted: 11/19/2012] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
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Guirola M, Pérez-Rafael S, Capdevila M, Palacios O, Atrian S. Metal dealing at the origin of the Chordata phylum: the metallothionein system and metal overload response in amphioxus. PLoS One 2012; 7:e43299. [PMID: 22905252 PMCID: PMC3419175 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0043299] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2012] [Accepted: 07/19/2012] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Non-vertebrate chordates, specifically amphioxus, are considered of the utmost interest for gaining insight into the evolutionary trends, i.e. differentiation and specialization, of gene/protein systems. In this work, MTs (metallothioneins), the most important metal binding proteins, are characterized for the first time in the cephalochordate subphylum at both gene and protein level, together with the main features defining the amphioxus response to cadmium and copper overload. Two MT genes (BfMT1 and BfMT2) have been identified in a contiguous region of the genome, as well as several ARE (antioxidant response element) and MRE (metal response element) located upstream the transcribed region. Their corresponding cDNAs exhibit identical sequence in the two lancelet species (B. floridae and B. lanceolatum), BfMT2 cDNA resulting from an alternative splicing event. BfMT1 is a polyvalent metal binding peptide that coordinates any of the studied metal ions (Zn, Cd or Cu) rendering complexes stable enough to last in physiological environments, which is fully concordant with the constitutive expression of its gene, and therefore, with a metal homeostasis housekeeping role. On the contrary, BfMT2 exhibits a clear ability to coordinate Cd(II) ions, while it is absolutely unable to fold into stable Cu (I) complexes, even as mixed species. This identifies it as an essential detoxification agent, which is consequently only induced in emergency situations. The cephalochordate MTs are not directly related to vertebrate MTs, neither by gene structure, protein similarity nor metal-binding behavior of the encoded peptides. The closest relative is the echinoderm MT, which confirm proposed phylogenetic relationships between these two groups. The current findings support the existence in most organisms of two types of MTs as for their metal binding preferences, devoted to different biological functions: multivalent MTs for housekeeping roles, and specialized MTs that evolve either as Cd-thioneins or Cu-thioneins, according to the ecophysiological needs of each kind of organisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Guirola
- Departament de Genètica, Facultat de Biologia, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
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Palacios Ò, Atrian S, Capdevila M. Zn- and Cu-thioneins: a functional classification for metallothioneins? J Biol Inorg Chem 2011; 16:991-1009. [DOI: 10.1007/s00775-011-0827-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 118] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2011] [Accepted: 07/25/2011] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
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Höckner M, Dallinger R, Stürzenbaum SR. Nematode and snail metallothioneins. J Biol Inorg Chem 2011; 16:1057-65. [PMID: 21822727 DOI: 10.1007/s00775-011-0826-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2011] [Accepted: 07/25/2011] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
Abstract
Metallobiologists have, at large, neglected soil dwelling invertebrates; exceptions are the nematode (Caenorhabditis elegans) and snails (Helix pomatia and Cantareus aspersus). This review aims to compare and contrast the molecular, protein and cellular mechanisms of the multifunctional nematode and snail metallothioneins (MTs). The C. elegans genome contains two MT genes, mtl-1, which is constitutively expressed in the pharynx and likely to act as an essential and/or toxic metal sensor, and mtl-2, which plays a negligible role under normal physiological conditions but is strongly induced (as mtl-1) in intestinal cells upon metal exposure. It has been possible to follow the intricate phenotypic responses upon the knockdown/knockout of single and multiple MT isoforms and we have started to decipher the multifunctional role of C. elegans MTs. The snails have contributed to our understanding regarding MT evolution and diversity, structure and metal-specific functionality. The H. pomatia and C. aspersus genomes contain at least three MT isoform genes. CdMT is responsible for cadmium detoxification, CuMT is involved in copper homeostasis and Cd/CuMT is a putative ancestral MT possibly only of minor importance in metal metabolism. Further investigations of nematode, snail and other invertebrate MTs will allow the development of alternative biomarker approaches and lead to an improved understanding of metallobiology, protein evolution and toxicogenomics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martina Höckner
- Institute of Zoology, University of Innsbruck, 6020, Innsbruck, Austria
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