Genome-wide identification of seven superoxide dismutase genes in the marine rotifer Brachionus rotundiformis and modulated expression and enzymatic activity in response to microplastics and nutritional status

Transgenerational effects of microplastics on Nrf2 signaling, GH/IGF, and HPI axis in marine medaka Oryzias melastigma under different salinities

Little information is available on the toxicity of microplastics (MPs) under different salinities in aquatic organisms. Consequently, the effects of larvae exposure to 180 μg/L MPs with 5.0 μm diameter on growth, antioxidant capacity and stress response were investigated in exposed F1 larvae and unexposed F2 larvae in marine medaka Oryzias melastigma at 5 ‰ and 25 ‰ salinities. Poor growth performance of F1 and F2 larvae and F1 adult fish was merely found under high salinity, as well as changes in the growth hormone/insulin-like growth factor-I (GH/IGF). Although malondialdehyde (MDA) content and antioxidant capacity remained constant in F1 larvae under high salinity, MPs increased MDA content and reduced antioxidant capacity in F2 larvae. Contrarily, MDA and antioxidant capacity increased in F1 and F2 larvae under low salinity. The mRNA expression levels of genes in the NF-E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) pathway were dysregulated. Cortisol levels in the whole body increased in F1 larvae and recovered to the control level under low salinity while cortisol levels declined in F1 larvae and increased in F2 larvae under high salinity, which was related to the transcriptional regulation of the hypothalamus-pituitary-interrenal (HPI) axis genes. To summary, the present study determined the toxic effects of MPs on growth, antioxidant capacity, and stress response by disturbing Nrf2, HPI, and GH/IGF signaling in exposed larvae and unexposed offspring of marine medaka in a salinity-dependent manner. For the first time, our results highlight the interference effects of salinity on MPs toxicity in fish.

Study on the binding of polystyrene microplastics with superoxide dismutase at the molecular level by multi-spectroscopy methods

Microplastics are harmful pollutants that widely exist worldwide and pose a severe threat to all types of organisms. The effects of polystyrene microplastics (PS-MPs) on organisms have been extensively studied, but the interaction mechanism between PS-MPs and superoxide dismutase (SOD) at the molecular level has not been reported yet. Therefore, based on multiple spectroscopic methods and enzyme activity measurements, the molecular mechanism of the interaction between PS-MPs and SOD was investigated. The multispectral results showed that the protein skeleton and secondary structure of SOD were altered by PS-MPs, resulting in decreased α-helix and β-sheet content. After PS-MPs exposure, fluorescence sensitization occurred, and micelles were formed, along with the enhanced hydrophobicity of aromatic amino acids in SOD. Moreover, the resonance light scattering (RLS) spectra result suggested that the PS-MPs and SOD combined to form a larger complex. Eventually, the activity of SOD was increased due to these structural changes, and the concentration of PS-MPs is positively correlated with SOD activity. This study can provide experimental support for studying the toxicological effects of PS-MPs.

Two novel superoxide dismutase genes (CuZnSOD and MnSOD) in the toxic marine dinoflagellate Alexandrium pacificum and their differential responses to metal stressors

Superoxide dismutase (SOD) is an important antioxidant enzyme that is involved in the first line of defense against reactive oxygen species (ROS) within cells. Herein, we determined two novel CuZnSOD and MnSOD genes from the toxic marine dinoflagellate Alexandrium pacificum (designated as ApCuZnSOD and ApMnSOD) and characterized their structural features and phylogenetic affiliations. In addition, we examined the relative gene expression and ROS levels following exposure to heavy metals. ApCuZnSOD encoded 358 amino acids (aa) with two CuZnSOD-conserved domains. ApMnSOD encoded 203 aa that contained a mitochondrial-targeting signal and a MnSOD signature motif but missed an N-terminal domain. Phylogenetic trees showed that ApCuZnSOD clustered with other dinoflagellates, whereas ApMnSOD formed a clade with green algae and plants. Based on the 72-h median effective concentration (EC₅₀), A. pacificum showed toxic responses in the order of Cu, Ni, Cr, Zn, Cd, and Pb. SOD expression levels dramatically increased after 6 h of Pb (≥6.5 times) and 48 h of Cu treatment (≥3.9 times). These results are consistent with the significant increase in ROS production in the A. pacificum exposed to Pb and Cu. These suggest that the two ApSODs are involved in the antioxidant defense system but respond differentially to individual metals.

Joint effects of microplastics and ZnO nanoparticles on the life history parameters of rotifers and the ability of rotifers to eliminate harmful phaeocystis

The rising concentration of microplastics and nanoparticles coexisting simultaneously in marine may bring joint harm to zooplankton. Rotifer is an important functional group of marine zooplankton, which plays an important role in the energy flow of marine ecosystem. To evaluate the comprehensive effects of nano-sized microplastics and metal oxide nanoparticles on life history parameters of rotifers and population dynamics of rotifers during eliminating harmful algae Phaeocystis, we exposed rotifers Brachionus plicatilis to the multiple combinations of different concentrations of nanoplastics and ZnO nanoparticles. Results showed that rotifer maturation time was prolonged and the total offspring was decreased significantly with rising ZnO nanoparticles and microplastics concentrations, and microplastics and ZnO nanoparticles had significant interaction, which brought more serious joint deleterious effects on survival, development, and reproduction. At the population level, ZnO nanoparticles exacerbated the delayed effect of microplastics on the elimination of Phaeocystis by rotifers, although eventually rotifers also completely eliminated Phaeocystis in the closed system. This study provided new insights into revealing the comprehensive impact of microplastics and ZnO nanoparticles on zooplankton not only from the perspective of life history parameters of rotifers but also from the perspective of population dynamics of rotifers controlling harmful algae, which is of great significance to understand the impact of mixed pollutants on marine ecosystem.

Role of Reactive Oxygen Species in Aging and Age-Related Diseases: A Review

Research on the role of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the aging process has advanced significantly over the last two decades. In light of recent findings, ROS takes part in the aging process of cells along with contributing to various physiological signaling pathways. Antioxidants being cells' natural defense mechanism against ROS-mediated alteration, play an imperative role to maintain intracellular ROS homeostasis. Although the complete understanding of the ROS regulated aging process is yet to be fully comprehended, current insights into various sources of cellular ROS and their correlation with the aging process and age-related diseases are portrayed in this review. In addition, results on the effect of antioxidants on ROS homeostasis and the aging process as well as their advances in clinical trials are also discussed in detail. The future perspective in ROS-antioxidant dynamics on antiaging research is also marshaled to provide future directions for ROS-mediated antiaging research fields.

Comparative genome analysis of the monogonont marine rotifer Brachionus manjavacas Australian strain: Potential application for ecotoxicology and environmental genomics

This is the first study to analyze the whole-genome sequence of B. manjavacas Australian (Aus.) strain through combination of Oxford Nanopore long-read seq, resulting in a total length of 108.1 Mb and 75 contigs. Genome-wide detoxification related gene families in B. manjavacas Aus. strain were comparatively analyzed with those previously identified in other Brachionus spp., including B. manjavacas German (Ger.) strain. Most of the subfamilies in detoxification related families (CYPs, GSTs, and ABCs) were highly conserved and confirmed orthologous relationship with Brachionus spp., and with accumulation of genome data, clear differences between genomic repertoires were demonstrated the marine and the freshwater species. Furthermore, strain-specific genetic variations were present between the Aus. and Ger. strains of B. manjavacas. This whole-genome analysis provides in-depth review on the genomic structural differences for detoxification-related gene families and further provides useful information for comparative ecotoxicological studies and evolution of detoxification mechanisms in Brachionus spp.