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Zhao Y, Ni S, Pei C, Sun L, Wu L, Xu A, Nie Y, Liu Y. Parental treatment with selenium protects Caenorhabditis elegans and their offspring against the reproductive toxicity of mercury. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 912:169461. [PMID: 38141982 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.169461] [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: 07/31/2023] [Revised: 12/14/2023] [Accepted: 12/15/2023] [Indexed: 12/25/2023]
Abstract
Mercury (Hg) is one of the major pollutants in the environment, which requires effective countermeasures to manage its risk to both human health and the ecosystem. The antagonistic effect of selenium (Se) against methyl mercury (MeHg) and HgCl2 was evaluated using parent and offspring Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans) in this study. Through designated acute exposure of 24 h, our results showed that both MeHg and HgCl2 induced dose-dependent reproductive toxicity, including increased germ cell apoptosis, decrease in the number of oocytes, brood size, and sperm activation. The increased germ cell apoptosis was even higher in F1 and F2 generations, but returned to control level in F3 generation. Pretreatment with Se significantly suppressed the reproductive toxicity caused by Hg in both parental worms and their offspring, but had little influence on Hg accumulation. The protective role of Se was found closely related to the chemical forms of Hg: mtl-1 and mtl-2 genes participated in reducing the toxicity of HgCl2, while the gst-4 gene was involved in the reduced toxicity of MeHg. The formation of Se-Hg complex and the antioxidant function of Se were considered as possible antagonistic mechanisms. Our data indicated that pretreatment with Se could effectively protect C. elegans and their offspring against the reproductive toxicity of Hg in different chemical forms, which provided a reference for the prevention of Hg poisoning and essential information for better understanding the detoxification potential of Se on heavy metals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanan Zhao
- Information Materials and Intelligent Sensing Laboratory of Anhui Province, Institutes of Physical Science and Information Technology, Anhui University, Hefei 230601, PR China
| | - Shenyao Ni
- Information Materials and Intelligent Sensing Laboratory of Anhui Province, Institutes of Physical Science and Information Technology, Anhui University, Hefei 230601, PR China
| | - Chengcheng Pei
- Information Materials and Intelligent Sensing Laboratory of Anhui Province, Institutes of Physical Science and Information Technology, Anhui University, Hefei 230601, PR China
| | - Lingyan Sun
- Information Materials and Intelligent Sensing Laboratory of Anhui Province, Institutes of Physical Science and Information Technology, Anhui University, Hefei 230601, PR China
| | - Lijun Wu
- Information Materials and Intelligent Sensing Laboratory of Anhui Province, Institutes of Physical Science and Information Technology, Anhui University, Hefei 230601, PR China
| | - An Xu
- Information Materials and Intelligent Sensing Laboratory of Anhui Province, Institutes of Physical Science and Information Technology, Anhui University, Hefei 230601, PR China; Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Environmental Toxicology and Pollution Control Technology; High Magnetic Field Laboratory, HFIPS, Anhui, Chinese Academy of Science, Hefei 230031, PR China
| | - Yaguang Nie
- Information Materials and Intelligent Sensing Laboratory of Anhui Province, Institutes of Physical Science and Information Technology, Anhui University, Hefei 230601, PR China.
| | - Yun Liu
- Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Environmental Toxicology and Pollution Control Technology; High Magnetic Field Laboratory, HFIPS, Anhui, Chinese Academy of Science, Hefei 230031, PR China.
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2
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Amin F, Al-Huqail AA, Ullah S, Khan MN, Kaplan A, Ali B, Iqbal M, Elsaid FG, Ercisli S, Malik T, Al-Robai SA, Abeed AHA. Mitigation effect of alpha-tocopherol and thermo-priming in Brassica napus L. under induced mercuric chloride stress. BMC PLANT BIOLOGY 2024; 24:108. [PMID: 38347449 PMCID: PMC10863246 DOI: 10.1186/s12870-024-04767-5] [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: 09/03/2023] [Accepted: 01/24/2024] [Indexed: 02/15/2024]
Abstract
Soil pollution with heavy metals has grown to be a big hassle, leading to the loss in farming production particularly in developing countries like Pakistan, where no proper channel is present for irrigation and extraction of these toxic heavy metals. The present study aims to ameliorate the damages caused by heavy metal ions (Hg-Mercury) on rapeseed (Brassica napus L.) via a growth regulator (α-tocopherol 150 mg/L) and thermopriming technique at 4 °C and 50 °C to maintain plant agronomical and physiological characteristics. In pot experiments, we designed total of 11 treatments viz.( T0 (control), T1 (Hg4ppm), T2 (Hg8ppm), T3 (Hg4ppm + 4 °C), T4 (Hg4ppm + 4 °C + tocopherol (150 m/L)), T5 (Hg4ppm + 50 °C), T6 (Hg4ppm + 50 °C + tocopherol (150 mg/L)), T7 (Hg8ppm + 4 °C), T8 (Hg8ppm + 4 °C + tocopherol (150 mg/L)), T9 (Hg8ppm + 50 °C), T10 (Hg8ppm + 50 °C + tocopherol (150 mg/L) the results revealed that chlorophyll content at p < 0.05 with growth regulator and antioxidant enzymes such as catalase, peroxidase, and malondialdehyde enhanced up to the maximum level at T5 = Hg4ppm + 50 °C (50 °C thermopriming under 4 ppm mercuric chloride stress), suggesting that high temperature initiate the antioxidant system to reduce photosystem damage. However, protein, proline, superoxide dismutase at p < 0.05, and carotenoid, soluble sugar, and ascorbate peroxidase were increased non-significantly (p > 0.05) 50 °C thermopriming under 8 ppm high mercuric chloride stress (T9 = Hg8ppm + 50 °C) representing the tolerance of selected specie by synthesizing osmolytes to resist oxidation mechanism. Furthermore, reduction in % MC (moisture content) is easily improved with foliar application of α-tocopherol and 50 °C thermopriming and 4 ppm heavy metal stress at T6 = Hg4ppm + 50 °C + α-tocopherol (150 mg/L), with a remarkable increase in plant vigor and germination energy. It has resulted that the inhibitory effect of only lower concentration (4 ppm) of heavy metal stress was ameliorated by exogenous application of α-tocopherol and thermopriming technique by synthesizing high levels of proline and antioxidant activities in maintaining seedling growth and development on heavy metal contaminated soil.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fazal Amin
- Department of Botany, University of Peshawar, Peshawar, 25120, Pakistan
| | - Arwa Abdulkreem Al-Huqail
- Department of Biology, College of Science, Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University, P.O. Box 84428, Riyadh, 11671, Saudi Arabia
| | - Sami Ullah
- Department of Botany, University of Peshawar, Peshawar, 25120, Pakistan.
| | - Muhammad Nauman Khan
- Department of Botany, Islamia College, Peshawar, 25120, Pakistan
- Biology Laboratory, University Public School, University of Peshawar, Peshawar, 25120, Pakistan
| | - Alevcan Kaplan
- Department of Crop and Animal Production, Sason Vocational School, Batman University, Batman, 72060, Turkey
| | - Baber Ali
- Department of Plant Sciences, Quaid-I-Azam University, Islamabad, 45320, Pakistan.
| | - Majid Iqbal
- Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100040, China
| | - Fahmy Gad Elsaid
- Biology Department, College of Science, King Khalid University, 61421, Abha, Al-Faraa, Asir, Saudi Arabia
| | - Sezai Ercisli
- Department of Horticulture, Agricultural Faculty, Ataturk University, Erzurum, 25240, Turkey
| | - Tabarak Malik
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Institute of Health, Jimma University, 378, Jimma, Ethiopia.
| | - Sami Asir Al-Robai
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Al-Baha University, 1988, Al-Baha, Saudi Arabia
| | - Amany H A Abeed
- Department of Botany and Microbiology, Faculty of Science, Assiut University, Assiut, 71516, Egypt
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Singh AD, Khanna K, Kour J, Dhiman S, Bhardwaj T, Devi K, Sharma N, Kumar P, Kapoor N, Sharma P, Arora P, Sharma A, Bhardwaj R. Critical review on biogeochemical dynamics of mercury (Hg) and its abatement strategies. CHEMOSPHERE 2023; 319:137917. [PMID: 36706814 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2023.137917] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2022] [Revised: 12/21/2022] [Accepted: 01/18/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Mercury (Hg) is among the naturally occurring heavy metal with elemental, organic, and inorganic distributions in the environment. Being considered a global pollutant, high pools of Hg-emissions ranging from >6000 to 8000 Mg Hg/year get accumulated by the natural and anthropogenic activities in the atmosphere. These toxicants have high persistence, toxicity, and widespread contamination in the soil, water, and air resources. Hg accumulation inside the plant parts amplifies the traces of toxic elements in the linking food chains, leads to Hg exposure to humans, and acts as a potential genotoxic, neurotoxic and carcinogenic entity. However, excessive Hg levels are equally toxic to the plant system and severely disrupt the physiological and metabolic processes in plants. Thus, a plausible link between Hg-concentration and its biogeochemical behavior is highly imperative to analyze the plant-soil interactions. Therefore, it is requisite to bring these toxic contaminants in between the acceptable limits to safeguard the environment. Plants efficiently incorporate or absorb the bioavailable Hg from the soil thus a constructive understanding of Hg uptake, translocation/sequestration involving specific heavy metal transporters, and detoxification mechanisms are drawn. Whereas recent investigations in biological remediation of Hg provide insights into the potential associations between the plants and microbes. Furthermore, intense research on Hg-induced antioxidants, protein networks, metabolic mechanisms, and signaling pathways is required to understand these bioremediations techniques. This review sheds light on the mercury (Hg) sources, pollution, biogeochemical cycles, its uptake, translocation, and detoxification methods with respect to its molecular approaches in plants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arun Dev Singh
- Department of Botanical and Environmental Sciences, Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar, Punjab, India.
| | - Kanika Khanna
- Department of Botanical and Environmental Sciences, Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar, Punjab, India
| | - Jaspreet Kour
- Department of Botanical and Environmental Sciences, Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar, Punjab, India
| | - Shalini Dhiman
- Department of Botanical and Environmental Sciences, Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar, Punjab, India
| | - Tamanna Bhardwaj
- Department of Botanical and Environmental Sciences, Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar, Punjab, India
| | - Kamini Devi
- Department of Botanical and Environmental Sciences, Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar, Punjab, India
| | - Neerja Sharma
- Department of Botanical and Environmental Sciences, Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar, Punjab, India
| | - Pardeep Kumar
- Department of Botanical and Environmental Sciences, Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar, Punjab, India
| | - Nitika Kapoor
- P.G. Department of Botany, Hans Raj Mahila Maha Vidyalaya, Jalandhar, Punjab, India
| | - Priyanka Sharma
- School of Bioengineering Sciences and Research, MIT-ADT University, Pune, Maharashtra, India
| | - Priya Arora
- Department of Botanical and Environmental Sciences, Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar, Punjab, India
| | - Anket Sharma
- State Key Laboratory of Subtropical Silviculture, Zhejiang A&F University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Renu Bhardwaj
- Department of Botanical and Environmental Sciences, Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar, Punjab, India.
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Mir Y, Wu S, Ma M, Ran Y, Zhu K, Mangwandi C, Mirza ZA. Mercury contamination in the riparian ecosystem during the reservoir discharging regulated by a mega dam. ENVIRONMENTAL GEOCHEMISTRY AND HEALTH 2022; 44:4405-4422. [PMID: 35089477 DOI: 10.1007/s10653-022-01205-z] [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: 08/25/2020] [Accepted: 01/13/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Mercury (Hg) is extremely poisonous and can be absorbed through touch, inhalation, or consumption. In the living environment, Hg in contaminated sediment can be transferred into grass by the direct absorption through the roots or shoots. The intake of Hg due to Hg emissions may pose a threat to living bodies especially to human beings. The present study aims to provide a novel insight about total mercury (THg) and methyl mercury (MeHg) in a riparian grass (Cynodon dactylon (L).Pers) and sediments during the discharging phase (summertime at 145 m water level) in Three Gorges Reservoir (TGR-China); where C. dactylon is a dominant perennial herb in the riparian zone. Yet, the potential risk of Hg contamination in the riparian ecosystem is not thoroughly assessed in the dam regulated reservoir. This study was conducted in the riparian zones of the reservoir formed by a mega dam (Three Gorge Dam) which regulates the water levels during the summer and winter period in the TGR. Our results showed that riparian sediments were acting as a sink for THg and MeHg. Insignificant correlation of THg and MeHg was found between the amphiphyte C. dactylon and its surrounding sediments in the TGR. Bioconcentration factors values for MeHg were found higher than 1 in all study locations in the riparian zones in TGR, which could be due to action of certain bacteria/purely chemical-based methylation on inorganic form of Hg. Additionally, translocation factor indices also highlighted that the amphiphyte C. dactylon was MeHg accumulator in riparian zones. These results suggested that since riparian sediment was found acting as the sink for THg and MeHg during discharging phase, MeHg contamination in the amphiphyte C. dactylon in riparian zones was not caused by the riparian sediments but by other factors, for instance, the anthropogenic activities in the TGR. Finally, this study leads to conclude that amphiphyte C. dactylon can be used as biomonitoring agent for Hg pollution in the TGR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yaseen Mir
- Key Laboratory of Reservoir Aquatic Environment, Chongqing Institute of Green and Intelligent Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chongqing, 400714, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Shengjun Wu
- Key Laboratory of Reservoir Aquatic Environment, Chongqing Institute of Green and Intelligent Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chongqing, 400714, China
| | - Maohua Ma
- Key Laboratory of Reservoir Aquatic Environment, Chongqing Institute of Green and Intelligent Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chongqing, 400714, China
| | - Yiguo Ran
- Key Laboratory of Reservoir Aquatic Environment, Chongqing Institute of Green and Intelligent Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chongqing, 400714, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Kai Zhu
- Key Laboratory of Reservoir Aquatic Environment, Chongqing Institute of Green and Intelligent Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chongqing, 400714, China
| | - Chirangano Mangwandi
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, David Kier Building Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, BT95AG, UK
| | - Zakaria Ahmed Mirza
- Key Laboratory of Reservoir Aquatic Environment, Chongqing Institute of Green and Intelligent Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chongqing, 400714, China.
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González-Reguero D, Robas-Mora M, Probanza A, Jiménez PA. Evaluation of the oxidative stress alleviation in Lupinus albus var. orden Dorado by the inoculation of four plant growth-promoting bacteria and their mixtures in mercury-polluted soils. Front Microbiol 2022; 13:907557. [PMID: 36246290 PMCID: PMC9556840 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.907557] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2022] [Accepted: 09/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Mercury (Hg) pollution is a serious environmental and public health problem. Hg has the ability to biomagnify through the trophic chain and generate various pathologies in humans. The exposure of plants to Hg affects normal plant growth and its stress levels, producing oxidative cell damage. Root inoculation with plant growth-promoting bacteria (PGPB) can help reduce the absorption of Hg, minimizing the harmful effects of this metal in the plant. This study evaluates the phytoprotective capacity of four bacterial strains selected for their PGPB capabilities, quantified by the calculation of the biomercuroremediator suitability index (IIBMR), and their consortia, in the Lupinus albus var. orden Dorado. The oxidative stress modulating capacity in the inoculated plant was analyzed by measuring the activity of the enzymes catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), ascorbate peroxidase (APX), and glutathione reductase (GR). In turn, the phytoprotective capacity of these PGPBs against the bioaccumulation of Hg was studied in plants grown in soils highly contaminated by Hg vs. soils in the absence of Hg contamination. The results of the oxidative stress alleviation and Hg bioaccumulation were compared with the biometric data of Lupinus albus var. orden Dorado previously obtained under the same soil conditions of Hg concentration. The results show that the biological behavior of plants (biometrics, bioaccumulation of Hg, and activity of regulatory enzymes of reactive oxygen species [ROS]) is significantly improved by the inoculation of strains B1 (Pseudomonas moraviensis) and B2 (Pseudomonas baetica), as well as their corresponding consortium (CS5). In light of the conclusions of this work, the use of these strains, as well as their consortium, is postulated as good candidates for their subsequent use in phytostimulation and phytoprotection processes in areas contaminated with Hg.
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Rodríguez J, Andersson A, Björn E, Timonen S, Brugel S, Skrobonja A, Rowe O. Inputs of Terrestrial Dissolved Organic Matter Enhance Bacterial Production and Methylmercury Formation in Oxic Coastal Water. Front Microbiol 2022; 13:809166. [PMID: 35966696 PMCID: PMC9363918 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.809166] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2021] [Accepted: 06/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Methylmercury (MeHg) is a potent neurotoxin commonly found in aquatic environments and primarily formed by microbial methylation of inorganic divalent mercury (Hg(II)) under anoxic conditions. Recent evidence, however, points to the production of MeHg also in oxic pelagic waters, but the magnitude and the drivers for this process remain unclear. Here, we performed a controlled experiment testing the hypothesis that inputs of terrestrial dissolved organic matter (tDOM) to coastal waters enhance MeHg formation via increased bacterial activity. Natural brackish seawater from a coastal area of the Baltic Sea was exposed to environmentally relevant levels of Hg(II) and additions of tDOM according to climate change scenarios. MeHg formation was observed to be coupled to elevated bacterial production rates, which, in turn, was linked to input levels of tDOM. The increased MeHg formation was, however, not coupled to any specific change in bacterial taxonomic composition nor to an increased abundance of known Hg(II) methylation genes. Instead, we found that the abundance of genes for the overall bacterial carbon metabolism was higher under increased tDOM additions. The findings of this study may have important ecological implications in a changing global climate by pointing to the risk of increased exposure of MeHg to pelagic biota.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juanjo Rodríguez
- Department of Ecology and Environmental Sciences, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden
- Department of Microbiology, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
- *Correspondence: Juanjo Rodríguez,
| | - Agneta Andersson
- Department of Ecology and Environmental Sciences, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden
- Umeå Marine Research Centre (UMF), Umeå University, Hörnefors, Sweden
| | - Erik Björn
- Department of Chemistry, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden
| | - Sari Timonen
- Department of Microbiology, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Sonia Brugel
- Department of Ecology and Environmental Sciences, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden
- Umeå Marine Research Centre (UMF), Umeå University, Hörnefors, Sweden
| | | | - Owen Rowe
- Helsinki Commission (HELCOM), Baltic Marine Environment Protection Commission, Helsinki, Finland
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Aquatic Ecological Risk of Heavy-Metal Pollution Associated with Degraded Mining Landscapes of the Southern Africa River Basins: A Review. MINERALS 2022. [DOI: 10.3390/min12020225] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Africa accounts for nearly 30% of the discovered world’s mineral reserves, with half of the world’s platinum group metals deposits, 36% of gold, and 20% of cobalt being in Southern Africa (SA). The intensification of heavy-metal production in the SA region has exacerbated negative human and environmental health impacts. In recent years, mining waste generated from industrial and artisanal mining has significantly affected the ecological integrity of SA aquatic ecosystems due to the accelerated introduction and deposition of heavy metals. However, the extent to which heavy-metal pollution associated with mining has impacted the aquatic ecosystems has not been adequately documented, particularly during bioassessments. This review explores the current aquatic ecological impacts on the heavily mined river basins of SA. It also discusses the approaches to assessing the ecological risks, inherent challenges, and potential for developing an integrated ecological risk assessment protocol for aquatic systems in the region. Progress has been made in developing rapid bioassessment schemes (RBS) for SA aquatic ecosystems. Nevertheless, method integration, which also involves heavy-metal pollution monitoring and molecular technology, is necessary to overcome the current challenges of the standardisation of RBS protocols. Citizenry science will also encourage community and stakeholder involvement in sustainable environmental management in SA.
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Pelcová P, Kopp R, Ridošková A, Grmela J, Štěrbová D. Evaluation of mercury bioavailability and phytoaccumulation by means of a DGT technique and of submerged aquatic plants in an aquatic ecosystem situated in the vicinity of a cinnabar mine. CHEMOSPHERE 2022; 288:132545. [PMID: 34648791 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2021.132545] [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] [Received: 03/23/2021] [Revised: 09/23/2021] [Accepted: 10/10/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
The ability of submerged aquatic plants (Elodea canadensis, Myriophyllum spicatum, Ceratophyllum demersum) and a natant plant (Eichhornia crassipes) to bioaccumulate mercury was evaluated in a laboratory experiment as well as in a real aquatic ecosystem situated in the vicinity of a cinnabar mine. Moreover, the ability of the diffusive gradients in the thin films technique (DGT) to predict mercury bioavailability for selected aquatic plants was tested. The submerged plants had sufficient bioaccumulation capacity for long-term phytoaccumulation of mercury in a real aquatic ecosystem. The determined bioaccumulation factor was greater than 1000. On average, the submerged plant leaves accumulated 13 times more mercury than the leaves of the natant aquatic plants. Chlorides at concentrations up to 200 mg/L had no statistically significant effect on mercury accumulation, nevertheless, the presence of humic acid in the water environment resulted in its significant (p < 0.002) decrease. A strong positive correlation (r > 0.66) was determined between mercury concentration in the input parts (leaves and/or roots) of the aquatic plants and the flow of mercury into DGT units.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pavlína Pelcová
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Mendel University in Brno, Zemedelska 1, CZ-61300, Brno, Czech Republic.
| | - Radovan Kopp
- Department of Zoology, Fisheries, Hydrobiology and Apiculture, Mendel University in Brno, Zemedelska 1, CZ-61300, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Andrea Ridošková
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Mendel University in Brno, Zemedelska 1, CZ-61300, Brno, Czech Republic; CEITEC MENDELU, Mendel University in Brno, Zemedelska 1, CZ-61300, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Jan Grmela
- Department of Zoology, Fisheries, Hydrobiology and Apiculture, Mendel University in Brno, Zemedelska 1, CZ-61300, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Dagmar Štěrbová
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Mendel University in Brno, Zemedelska 1, CZ-61300, Brno, Czech Republic
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Marle P, Timoner P, Liu W, Castella E, Slaveykova VI. Light-trapped caddisflies to decipher the role of species traits and habitats in Hg accumulation and transfer. CHEMOSPHERE 2022; 287:131909. [PMID: 34461331 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2021.131909] [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: 05/19/2021] [Revised: 07/19/2021] [Accepted: 08/14/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
We present a novel meta-community approach to explore the influence of species traits, such as adult body size, larval feeding type and microhabitat, as well as larval macrohabitat (main river channel vs. floodplain water bodies) on the concentration of total Hg accumulated ([THg]) in assemblages of adult caddisflies. We analyzed [THg] in 157 light-trapped adult caddisflies in a floodplain sector of the French upper Rhône River and used a linear mixed effect model to decipher the role of species traits and habitats in Hg accumulation. Variation of [THg] between species was best explained by the larval feeding type, whereas the contributions of adult size and larval micro and macro-habitat were minor. Results showed that [THg] in species associated with floodplain macrohabitats in the larval stage was lower than in those associated with the main river channel. This difference could depend on complexation of Hg by DOM (in the floodplain) and MES (in the main channel). This research provides a first evidence of the potential of an entire caddisfly assemblage for the assessment of contamination in large alluvial rivers. The implications of the results are discussed in view of the possible role of caddisflies as vectors of Hg to riparian predators.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pierre Marle
- University of Geneva, Faculty of Sciences, Earth and Environment Sciences, Department F.-A. Forel for Environmental and Aquatic Sciences, Laboratory of Aquatic Ecology and Biology, And Institute for Environmental Sciences, Uni Carl Vogt, 66 Bvd Carl-Vogt CH 1211, Geneva, Switzerland; University of Geneva, Faculty of Sciences, Earth and Environment Sciences, Department F.-A. Forel for Environmental and Aquatic Sciences, Environmental Biogeochemistry and Ecotoxicology, And Institute for Environmental Sciences, Uni Carl Vogt, 66 Bvd Carl-Vogt CH 1211, Geneva, Switzerland.
| | - Pablo Timoner
- University of Geneva, Faculty of Sciences, Earth and Environment Sciences, Department F.-A. Forel for Environmental and Aquatic Sciences, EnviroSPACE Laboratory, And Institute for Environmental Sciences, Uni Carl Vogt, 66 Bvd Carl-Vogt CH 1211, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Wei Liu
- University of Geneva, Faculty of Sciences, Earth and Environment Sciences, Department F.-A. Forel for Environmental and Aquatic Sciences, Environmental Biogeochemistry and Ecotoxicology, And Institute for Environmental Sciences, Uni Carl Vogt, 66 Bvd Carl-Vogt CH 1211, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Emmanuel Castella
- University of Geneva, Faculty of Sciences, Earth and Environment Sciences, Department F.-A. Forel for Environmental and Aquatic Sciences, Laboratory of Aquatic Ecology and Biology, And Institute for Environmental Sciences, Uni Carl Vogt, 66 Bvd Carl-Vogt CH 1211, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Vera I Slaveykova
- University of Geneva, Faculty of Sciences, Earth and Environment Sciences, Department F.-A. Forel for Environmental and Aquatic Sciences, Environmental Biogeochemistry and Ecotoxicology, And Institute for Environmental Sciences, Uni Carl Vogt, 66 Bvd Carl-Vogt CH 1211, Geneva, Switzerland
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10
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Cosio C, Degli-Esposti D, Almunia C, Gaillet V, Sartelet H, Armengaud J, Chaumot A, Geffard O, Geffard A. Subcellular Distribution of Dietary Methyl-Mercury in Gammarus fossarum and Its Impact on the Amphipod Proteome. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2021; 55:10514-10523. [PMID: 34283579 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.1c02385] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
The transfer of methyl-Hg (MeHg) from food is central for its effects in aquatic animals, but we still lack knowledge concerning its impact on invertebrate primary consumers. In aquatic environments, cell walls of plants are particularly recalcitrant to degradation and as such remain available as a food source for long periods. Here, the impact at the proteomic level of dietary MeHg in Gammarus fossarum was established and linked to subcellular distribution of Hg. Individuals of G. fossarum were fed with MeHg in cell wall or intracellular compartments of Elodea nuttallii. Hg concentrations in subcellular fractions were 2 to 6 times higher in animals fed with cell wall than intracellular compartments. At the higher concentrations tested, the proportion of Hg in metal-sensitive fraction increased from 30.0 ± 6.1 to 41.0 ± 5.7% for individuals fed with intracellular compartment, while biologically detoxified metal fraction increased from 30.0 ± 6.1 to 50.0 ± 2.8% when fed with cell wall compartment. Data suggested that several thresholds of proteomic response are triggered by increased bioaccumulation in each subcellular fraction in correlation with Hg exclusively bound to the metal-sensitive fraction, while the increase of biologically detoxified metal likely had a cost for fitness. Proteomics analysis supported that the different binding sites and speciation in shoots subsequently resulted in different fate and cellular toxicity pathways to consumers. Our data confirmed that Hg bound in cell walls of plants can be assimilated by G. fossarum, which is consistent with its feeding strategy, hence pointing cell walls as a significant source for Hg transfers and toxicity in primary consumers. The high accumulation of Hg in macrophytes makes them a risk for food web transfer in shallow ecosystems. The present results allowed gaining new insights into the effects and uptake mechanisms of MeHg in aquatic primary consumers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claudia Cosio
- Université de Reims Champagne-Ardenne, UMR-I 02 INERIS-URCA-ULH SEBIO, Campus du Moulin de la Housse, BP 1039, Cedex, Reims 51687, France
| | | | - Christine Almunia
- Université Paris-Saclay, CEA, INRAE, Département Médicaments et Technologies pour la Santé (DMTS), SPI, 30200 Bagnols-sur-Cèze, France
| | - Véronique Gaillet
- Université de Reims Champagne-Ardenne, UMR-I 02 INERIS-URCA-ULH SEBIO, Campus du Moulin de la Housse, BP 1039, Cedex, Reims 51687, France
| | - Hervé Sartelet
- Université de Reims Champagne-Ardenne, UMR CNRS/URCA 7369, Matrice Extracellulaire et Dynamique Cellulaire (MEDyC), Campus du Moulin de la Housse, BP 1039, Cedex, Reims 51687, France
| | - Jean Armengaud
- Université Paris-Saclay, CEA, INRAE, Département Médicaments et Technologies pour la Santé (DMTS), SPI, 30200 Bagnols-sur-Cèze, France
| | - Arnaud Chaumot
- INRAE, UR RiverLy, Laboratoire d'écotoxicologie, F-69625 Villeurbanne, France
| | - Olivier Geffard
- INRAE, UR RiverLy, Laboratoire d'écotoxicologie, F-69625 Villeurbanne, France
| | - Alain Geffard
- Université de Reims Champagne-Ardenne, UMR-I 02 INERIS-URCA-ULH SEBIO, Campus du Moulin de la Housse, BP 1039, Cedex, Reims 51687, France
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Tiodar ED, Văcar CL, Podar D. Phytoremediation and Microorganisms-Assisted Phytoremediation of Mercury-Contaminated Soils: Challenges and Perspectives. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2021; 18:2435. [PMID: 33801363 PMCID: PMC7967564 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph18052435] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2021] [Revised: 02/18/2021] [Accepted: 02/24/2021] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
Mercury (Hg) pollution is a global threat to human and environmental health because of its toxicity, mobility and long-term persistence. Although costly engineering-based technologies can be used to treat heavily Hg-contaminated areas, they are not suitable for decontaminating agricultural or extensively-polluted soils. Emerging phyto- and bioremediation strategies for decontaminating Hg-polluted soils generally involve low investment, simple operation, and in situ application, and they are less destructive for the ecosystem. Current understanding of the uptake, translocation and sequestration of Hg in plants is reviewed to highlight new avenues for exploration in phytoremediation research, and different phytoremediation strategies (phytostabilization, phytoextraction and phytovolatilization) are discussed. Research aimed at identifying suitable plant species and associated-microorganisms for use in phytoremediation of Hg-contaminated soils is also surveyed. Investigation into the potential use of transgenic plants in Hg-phytoremediation is described. Recent research on exploiting the beneficial interactions between plants and microorganisms (bacteria and fungi) that are Hg-resistant and secrete plant growth promoting compounds is reviewed. We highlight areas where more research is required into the effective use of phytoremediation on Hg-contaminated sites, and conclude that the approaches it offers provide considerable potential for the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emanuela D. Tiodar
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Babeş-Bolyai University, 1 Kogălniceanu St., 400084 Cluj-Napoca, Romania; (E.D.T.); (C.L.V.)
- Centre for Systems Biology, Biodiversity and Bioresources (3B), Babeş-Bolyai University, 3-5 Clinicilor St., 400015 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Cristina L. Văcar
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Babeş-Bolyai University, 1 Kogălniceanu St., 400084 Cluj-Napoca, Romania; (E.D.T.); (C.L.V.)
- Centre for Systems Biology, Biodiversity and Bioresources (3B), Babeş-Bolyai University, 3-5 Clinicilor St., 400015 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Dorina Podar
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Babeş-Bolyai University, 1 Kogălniceanu St., 400084 Cluj-Napoca, Romania; (E.D.T.); (C.L.V.)
- Centre for Systems Biology, Biodiversity and Bioresources (3B), Babeş-Bolyai University, 3-5 Clinicilor St., 400015 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
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Chang J, Si G, Dong J, Yang Q, Shi Y, Chen Y, Zhou K, Chen J. Transcriptomic analyses reveal the pathways associated with the volatilization and resistance of mercury(II) in the fungus Lecythophora sp. DC-F1. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2021; 752:142172. [PMID: 33207499 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.142172] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2020] [Revised: 09/01/2020] [Accepted: 09/01/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
The biotic enzymatic reduction of mercury II [Hg(II)] to elemental Hg [Hg(0)] is an important pathway for Hg detoxification in natural ecosystems. However, the mechanisms of Hg(II) volatilization and resistance in fungi have not been understood completely. In the present study, we investigated the mechanisms of Hg(II) volatilization and resistance in the fungus Lecythophora sp. DC-F1. Hg(II) volatilization occurred during the investigation via the reduction of Hg(II) to Hg(0) in DC-F1. Comparative transcriptome analyses of DC-F1 revealed 3439 differentially expressed genes under 10 mg/L Hg(II) stress, among which 2770 were up-regulated and 669 were down-regulated. Functional enrichment analyses of genes and pathways further suggested that the Hg(II) resistance of DC-F1 is a multisystem collaborative process with three important transcriptional responses to Hg(II) stress: a mer-mediated Hg detoxification system, a thiol compound metabolism, and a cell reactive oxygen species stress response system. The phylogenetic analysis of merA protein homologs suggests that the Hg(II) reduction by merA is widely distributed in fungi. Overall, this study provides evidence for the reduction of Hg(II) to Hg(0) in fungi via the mer-mediated Hg detoxification system and offers a comprehensive explanation for its role within Hg biogeochemical cycling. These findings offer a strong theoretical basis for the application of fungi in the bioremediation of Hg-contaminated envionments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Junjun Chang
- Institute for Ecological Research and Pollution Control of Plateau Lakes, School of Ecology and Environmental Science, Yunnan University, Kunming 650091, China; Yunnan Key Laboratory for Plateau Mountain Ecology and Restoration of Degraded Environments, School of Ecology and Environmental Science, Yunnan University, Kunming 650091, China; International Cooperative Center of Plateau Lake Ecological Restoration and Watershed Management of Yunnan Kunming, 650091, China
| | - Guangzheng Si
- Institute of International Rivers and Eco-security, Yunnan University, Kunming 650091, China
| | - Jia Dong
- International Cooperative Center of Plateau Lake Ecological Restoration and Watershed Management of Yunnan Kunming, 650091, China
| | - Qingchen Yang
- Institute of International Rivers and Eco-security, Yunnan University, Kunming 650091, China
| | - Yu Shi
- Institute of International Rivers and Eco-security, Yunnan University, Kunming 650091, China
| | - Yaling Chen
- Institute for Ecological Research and Pollution Control of Plateau Lakes, School of Ecology and Environmental Science, Yunnan University, Kunming 650091, China
| | - Kexin Zhou
- Institute for Ecological Research and Pollution Control of Plateau Lakes, School of Ecology and Environmental Science, Yunnan University, Kunming 650091, China
| | - Jinquan Chen
- Institute for Ecological Research and Pollution Control of Plateau Lakes, School of Ecology and Environmental Science, Yunnan University, Kunming 650091, China; Yunnan Key Laboratory for Plateau Mountain Ecology and Restoration of Degraded Environments, School of Ecology and Environmental Science, Yunnan University, Kunming 650091, China; International Cooperative Center of Plateau Lake Ecological Restoration and Watershed Management of Yunnan Kunming, 650091, China.
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Shahid M, Khalid S, Bibi I, Bundschuh J, Khan Niazi N, Dumat C. A critical review of mercury speciation, bioavailability, toxicity and detoxification in soil-plant environment: Ecotoxicology and health risk assessment. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2020; 711:134749. [PMID: 32000322 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.134749] [Citation(s) in RCA: 93] [Impact Index Per Article: 23.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2019] [Revised: 09/18/2019] [Accepted: 09/29/2019] [Indexed: 05/09/2023]
Abstract
Environmental contamination by a non-essential and non-beneficial, although potentially toxic mercury (Hg), is becoming a great threat to the living organisms at a global scale. Owing to its various uses in numerous industrial processes, high amount of Hg is released into different environmental compartments. Environmental Hg contamination can result in food chain contamination, especially due to its accumulation in edible plant parts. Consumption of Hg-rich food is a key source of Hg exposure to humans. Since Hg does not possess any identified biological role and has genotoxic and carcinogenic potential, it is critical to monitor its biogeochemical behavior in the soil-plant system and its influence in terms of possible food chain contamination and human exposure. This review traces a plausible link among Hg levels, its chemical speciation and phytoavailability in soil, accumulation in plants, phytotoxicity and detoxification of Hg inside the plant. The role of different enzymatic (peroxidase, catalase, ascorbate peroxidase, superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase) and non-enzymatic (glutathione, phytochelatins, proline and ascorbic acid) antioxidants has also been elucidated with respect to enhanced generation of reactive radicles and resulting oxidative stress. The review also outlines Hg build-up in edible plant tissues and associated health risks. The biogeochemical role of Hg in the soil-plant system and associated health risks have been described with well summarized and up-to-date data in 12 tables and 4 figures. We believe that this comprehensive review article and meta-analysis of Hg data can be greatly valuable for scientists, researchers, policymakers and graduate-level students.
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Affiliation(s)
- Muhammad Shahid
- Department of Environmental Sciences, COMSATS University Islamabad, Vehari Campus, Vehari-61100, Pakistan.
| | - Sana Khalid
- Department of Environmental Sciences, COMSATS University Islamabad, Vehari Campus, Vehari-61100, Pakistan
| | - Irshad Bibi
- Institute of Soil and Environmental Sciences, University of Agriculture Faisalabad, Faisalabad 38040, Pakistan
| | - Jochen Bundschuh
- UNESCO Chair on Groundwater Arsenic within the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, University of Southern Queensland, West Street, Toowoomba, Queensland 4350, Australia
| | - Nabeel Khan Niazi
- Institute of Soil and Environmental Sciences, University of Agriculture Faisalabad, Faisalabad 38040, Pakistan; School of Civil Engineering and Surveying, University of Southern Queensland, Toowoomba, Queensland, Australia.
| | - Camille Dumat
- Centre d'Etude et de Recherche Travail Organisation Pouvoir (CERTOP), UMR5044, Université J. Jaurès - Toulouse II, 5 allée Machado A., 31058 Toulouse, cedex 9, France; Université de Toulouse, INP-ENSAT, Avenue de l'Agrobiopole, 31326 Auzeville-Tolosane, France; Association Réseau-Agriville (http://reseau-agriville.com/), France
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Inorganic Mercury and Methyl-Mercury Uptake and Effects in the Aquatic Plant Elodea nuttallii: A Review of Multi-Omic Data in the Field and in Controlled Conditions. APPLIED SCIENCES-BASEL 2020. [DOI: 10.3390/app10051817] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
(1) Background: Mercury is a threat for the aquatic environment. Nonetheless, the entrance of Hg into food webs is not fully understood. Macrophytes are both central for Hg entry in food webs and are seen as good candidates for biomonitoring and bioremediation; (2) Methods: We review the knowledge gained on the uptake and effects of inorganic Hg (IHg) and methyl-Hg (MMHg) in the macrophyte Elodea nuttallii found in temperate freshwaters; (3) Results: E. nuttallii bioaccumulates IHg and MMHg, but IHg shows a higher affinity to cell walls. At the individual level, IHg reduced chlorophyll, while MMHg increased anthocyanin. Transcriptomics and metabolomics in shoots revealed that MMHg regulated a higher number of genes than IHg. Proteomics and metabolomics in cytosol revealed that IHg had more effect than MMHg; (4) Conclusions: MMHg and IHg show different cellular toxicity pathways. MMHg’s main impact appears on the non-soluble compartment, while IHg’s main impact happens on the soluble compartment. This is congruent with the higher affinity of IHg with dissolved OM (DOM) or cell walls. E. nuttallii is promising for biomonitoring, as its uptake and molecular responses reflect exposure to IHg and MMHg. More generally, multi-omics approaches identify cellular toxicity pathways and the early impact of sublethal pollution.
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15
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Cosio C, Renault D. Effects of cadmium, inorganic mercury and methyl-mercury on the physiology and metabolomic profiles of shoots of the macrophyte Elodea nuttallii. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2020; 257:113557. [PMID: 31733966 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2019.113557] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2019] [Revised: 10/31/2019] [Accepted: 10/31/2019] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
Macrophytes are known to bioaccumulate metals, but a thorough understanding of tolerance strategies and molecular impact of metals in aquatic plants is still lacking. The present study aimed to compare Hg and Cd effects in a representative macrophyte, Elodea nuttallii using physiological endpoints and metabolite profiles in shoots and cytosol. Exposure 24 h to methyl-Hg (30 ng L-1), inorganic Hg (70 ng L-1) and Cd (280 μg L-1) did not affect photosynthesis, or antioxidant enzymes despite the significant accumulation of metals, confirming a sublethal stress level. In shoots, Cd resulted in a higher level of regulation of metabolites than MeHg, while MeHg resulted in the largest number of regulated metabolites and IHg treatment regulated no metabolites significantly. In cytosol, Cd regulated more metabolites than IHg and only arginine, histidine and mannose were reduced by MeHg exposure. Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway analysis of data suggested that exposure to MeHg resulted in biochemical changes including aminoacyl-tRNA biosynthesis, glycine, serine and threonine metabolism, nitrogen metabolism, arginine and proline metabolism, cyanoamino acid metabolism, while the treatment of Cd stress caused significant variations in aminoacyl-tRNA biosynthesis and branched-chain amino acids pathways. Data supports an impact of MeHg on N homeostasis, while Cd resulted in an osmotic stress-like pattern and IHg had a low impact. Marked differences in the responses to MeHg and IHg exposure were evidenced, supporting different molecular toxicity pathways and main impact of MeHg on non-soluble compartment, while main impact of IHg was on soluble compartment. Metabolomics was used for the first time in this species and proved to be very useful to confirm and complement recent knowledge gained by transcriptomics and proteomics, highlighting the high interest of multi-omics approaches to identify early impact of environmental pollution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claudia Cosio
- Université de Reims Champagne-Ardenne, UMR-I 02 INERIS-URCA-ULH SEBIO, F-51687 Reims, France.
| | - David Renault
- Université de Rennes 1, UMR 6553 EcoBio CNRS, F-35042 Rennes, France; Institut Universitaire de France, 1 rue Descartes, 75231 Paris CEDEX 05, France
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Agarwal S, Khan S. Heavy Metal Phytotoxicity: DNA Damage. CELLULAR AND MOLECULAR PHYTOTOXICITY OF HEAVY METALS 2020. [DOI: 10.1007/978-3-030-45975-8_10] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
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Beauvais-Flück R, Slaveykova VI, Ulf S, Cosio C. Towards early-warning gene signature of Chlamydomonas reinhardtii exposed to Hg-containing complex media. AQUATIC TOXICOLOGY (AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS) 2019; 214:105259. [PMID: 31352075 DOI: 10.1016/j.aquatox.2019.105259] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2019] [Revised: 07/14/2019] [Accepted: 07/15/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
The potential of using gene expression signature as a biomarker of toxicants exposure was explored in the microalga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii exposed 2 h to mercury (Hg) as inorganic mercury (IHg) and methyl mercury (MeHg) in presence of copper (Cu) and Suwannee River Humic Acid (SRHA). Total cellular Hg (THg = IHg + MeHg) decreased in presence of SRHA for 0.7 nM IHg and 0.4 nM MeHg, but increased for 70 nM IHg exposure. In mixtures of IHg + MeHg and (IHg or MeHg) + Cu, SRHA decreased THg uptake, except for 0.7 nM IHg + 0.4 nM MeHg which was unchanged (p-value>0.05). In the absence of SRHA, 0.5 μM Cu strongly decreased intracellular THg concentration for 70 nM IHg, while it had no effect for 0.7 nM IHg and 0.4 nM MeHg. The expression of single transcripts was not correlated with measured THg uptake, but a subset of 60 transcripts showed signatures specific to the exposed metal(s) and was congruent with exposure concentration. Notably, the range of fold change values of this subset correlated with THg bioaccumulation with a two-slope pattern in line with [THg]intra/[THg]med ratios. Gene expression signature seems a promising approach to complement chemical analyses to assess bioavailability of toxicants in presence of other metals and organic matter.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rébecca Beauvais-Flück
- Department F.-A. Forel for environmental and aquatic sciences, Earth and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Sciences, University of Geneva, 66, boulevard Carl-Vogt, CH-1211, Geneva 4, Switzerland
| | - Vera I Slaveykova
- Department F.-A. Forel for environmental and aquatic sciences, Earth and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Sciences, University of Geneva, 66, boulevard Carl-Vogt, CH-1211, Geneva 4, Switzerland
| | - Skyllberg Ulf
- Department of Forest Ecology and Management, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, 901 83, Umeå, Sweden
| | - Claudia Cosio
- Department F.-A. Forel for environmental and aquatic sciences, Earth and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Sciences, University of Geneva, 66, boulevard Carl-Vogt, CH-1211, Geneva 4, Switzerland.
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Beauvais-Flück R, Slaveykova VI, Cosio C. Comparative study of Cu uptake and early transcriptome responses in the green microalga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii and the macrophyte Elodea nuttallii. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2019; 250:331-337. [PMID: 31003145 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2019.04.032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2018] [Revised: 04/03/2019] [Accepted: 04/06/2019] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Microalgae are widely used as representative primary producers in ecotoxicology, while macrophytes are much less studied. Here we compared the bioavailability and cellular toxicity pathways of 2 h-exposure to 10-6 mol L-1 Cu in the macrophyte Elodea nuttallii and the green microalga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii. Uptake rate was similar but faster in the algae than in the macrophyte, while RNA-Sequencing revealed a similar number of regulated genes. Early-regulated genes were congruent with expected adverse outcome pathways for Cu with Gene Ontology terms including gene regulation, energy metabolism, transport, cell processes, stress, antioxidant metabolism and development. However, the gene regulation level was higher in E. nuttallii than in C. reinhardtii and several categories were more represented in the macrophyte than in the microalga. Moreover, several categories including oxidative pentose phosphate pathway (OPP), nitrate metabolism and metal handling were only found for E. nuttallii, whereas categories such as cell motility, polyamine metabolism, mitochondrial electron transport and tricarboxylic acid cycle (TCA) were unique to C. reinhardtii. These differences were attributed to morphological and metabolic differences and highlighted dissimilarities between a sessile and a mobile species. Our results highlight the efficiency of transcriptomics to assess early molecular responses in biota, and the importance of studying more aquatic plants for a better understanding on the impact and fate of environmental contaminants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca Beauvais-Flück
- Department F.-A. Forel for Environmental and Aquatic Sciences, Earth and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Sciences, University of Geneva, 66, Boulevard Carl-Vogt, CH-1211, Geneva 4, Switzerland
| | - Vera I Slaveykova
- Department F.-A. Forel for Environmental and Aquatic Sciences, Earth and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Sciences, University of Geneva, 66, Boulevard Carl-Vogt, CH-1211, Geneva 4, Switzerland
| | - Claudia Cosio
- Department F.-A. Forel for Environmental and Aquatic Sciences, Earth and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Sciences, University of Geneva, 66, Boulevard Carl-Vogt, CH-1211, Geneva 4, Switzerland.
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Lominchar MÁ, Sierra MJ, Jiménez-Moreno M, Guirado M, Martín-Doimeadios RCR, Millán R. Mercury species accumulation and distribution in Typha domingensis under real field conditions (Almadén, Spain). ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2019; 26:3138-3144. [PMID: 29644609 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-018-1861-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2017] [Accepted: 03/26/2018] [Indexed: 05/06/2023]
Abstract
Monomethylmercury (MeHg) is one of the most toxic and the most commonly occurring organomercury compound and the wetlands are one of the main areas of generation of this Hg form. Concretely, it is in the macrophyte root system where better conditions are given for its generation. However, the knowledge of absorption and subsequent distribution of mercury (Hg) and monomethylmercury in aquatic plants is still limited. Mercury mining district such as Almadén (Ciudad Real, Spain) is a natural laboratory where different rivers flow and the species Typha domingensis Pers. is a common macrophyte which grows in their riverbanks. The aim of the present work is to apply a recently developed method specially designed to analyze Hg species in plant tissues to the different fractions of T. domingensis under real field conditions and to study the accumulation and distribution of Hg species (inorganic Hg and MeHg) within the plant. The results proved that whatever Hg species has preference to be accumulated in the belowground fractions and demonstrated a high efficiency in the accumulation of MeHg.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - María José Sierra
- CIEMAT - Environmental Department, Avenida Complutense 40, 28040, Madrid, Spain.
| | - María Jiménez-Moreno
- Environmental Sciences Institute (ICAM), Department of Analytical Chemistry and Food Technology, University of Castilla-La Mancha, Avenida Carlos III s/n, 45071, Toledo, Spain
| | - María Guirado
- CIEMAT - Environmental Department, Avenida Complutense 40, 28040, Madrid, Spain
| | - Rosa Carmen Rodríguez Martín-Doimeadios
- Environmental Sciences Institute (ICAM), Department of Analytical Chemistry and Food Technology, University of Castilla-La Mancha, Avenida Carlos III s/n, 45071, Toledo, Spain
| | - Rocío Millán
- CIEMAT - Environmental Department, Avenida Complutense 40, 28040, Madrid, Spain
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Regnell O, Watras CJ. Microbial Mercury Methylation in Aquatic Environments: A Critical Review of Published Field and Laboratory Studies. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2019; 53:4-19. [PMID: 30525497 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.8b02709] [Citation(s) in RCA: 103] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
Methylmercury (MeHg) is an environmental contaminant of concern because it biomagnifies in aquatic food webs and poses a health hazard to aquatic biota, piscivorous wildlife and humans. The dominant source of MeHg to freshwater systems is the methylation of inorganic Hg (IHg) by anaerobic microorganisms; and it is widely agreed that in situ rates of Hg methylation depend on two general factors: the activity of Hg methylators and their uptake of IHg. A large body of research has focused on the biogeochemical processes that regulate these two factors in nature; and studies conducted within the past ten years have made substantial progress in identifying the genetic basis for intracellular methylation and defining the processes that govern the cellular uptake of IHg. Current evidence indicates that all Hg methylating anaerobes possess the gene pair hgcAB that encodes proteins essential for Hg methylation. These genes are found in a large variety of anaerobes, including iron reducers and methanogens; but sulfate reduction is the metabolic process most often reported to show strong links to MeHg production. The uptake of Hg substrate prior to methylation may occur by passive or active transport, or by a combination of both. Competitive inhibition of Hg uptake by Zn speaks in favor of active transport and suggests that essential metal transporters are involved. Shortly after its formation, MeHg is typically released from cells, but the efflux mechanisms are unknown. Although methylation facilitates Hg depuration from the cell, evidence suggests that the hgcAB genes are not induced or favored by Hg contamination. Instead, high MeHg production can be linked to high Hg bioavailability as a result of the formation of Hg(SH)2, HgS nanoparticles, and Hg-thiol complexes. It is also possible that sulfidic conditions require strong essential metal uptake systems that inadvertently bring Hg into the cytoplasm of Hg methylating microbes. In comparison with freshwaters, Hg methylation in open ocean waters appears less restricted to anoxic environments. It does seem to occur mainly in oxygen deficient zones (ODZs), and possibly within anaerobic microzones of settling organic matter, but MeHg (CH3Hg+) and Me2Hg ((CH3)2Hg) have been shown to form also in surface water samples from the euphotic zone. Future studies may disclose whether several different pathways lead to Hg methylation in marine waters and explain why Me2Hg is a significant Hg species in oceans but seemingly not in most freshwaters.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olof Regnell
- Department of Biology/Aquatic Ecology , Lund University , SE-223 62 Lund , Sweden
| | - Carl J Watras
- Bureau of Water Quality , Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources , Madison , Wisconsin 53703 , United States
- Center for Limnology , University of Wisconsin-Madison , 3110 Trout Lake Station Drive , Boulder Junction , Wisconsin 54512 , United States
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Franić M, Galić V. As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Hg: Physiological Implications and Toxicity in Plants. PLANT METALLOMICS AND FUNCTIONAL OMICS 2019:209-251. [DOI: 10.1007/978-3-030-19103-0_9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/02/2023]
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Molecular Effects of Inorganic and Methyl Mercury in Aquatic Primary Producers: Comparing Impact to A Macrophyte and A Green Microalga in Controlled Conditions. GEOSCIENCES 2018. [DOI: 10.3390/geosciences8110393] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Mercury (Hg) remains hazardous in aquatic environments, because of its toxicity and high biomagnification in food webs. In phytoplankton and macrophytes, Hg compounds at high concentration have been reported to affect the growth, photosynthesis, and nutrient metabolism, as well as to induce oxidative stress and damage. Here, we reviewed the recent knowledge gained on cellular toxicity of inorganic and methyl Hg (IHg; MeHg) in aquatic primary producers at more relevant environmental concentrations, with a particular focus on omics data. In addition, we compared a case study conducted with transcriptomic on the green microalga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii and the macrophyte Elodea nuttallii. At lower concentrations, IHg and MeHg influenced similar gene categories, including energy metabolism, cell structure, and nutrition. In addition, genes involved in the cell motility in the microalgae, and in hormone metabolism in the macrophyte were regulated. At equivalent intracellular concentration, MeHg regulated more genes than IHg supporting a higher molecular impact of the former. At the organism level in C. reinhardtii, MeHg increased reactive oxygen species, while both IHg and MeHg increased photosynthesis efficiency, whereas in E. nuttallii MeHg induced anti-oxidant responses and IHg reduced chlorophyll content. Data showed differences, according to species and characteristics of life cycle, in responses at the gene and cellular levels, but evidenced a higher molecular impact of MeHg than IHg and different cellular toxicity pathways in aquatic primary producers.
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Beauvais-Flück R, Slaveykova VI, Skyllberg U, Cosio C. Molecular Effects, Speciation, and Competition of Inorganic and Methyl Mercury in the Aquatic Plant Elodea nuttallii. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2018; 52:8876-8884. [PMID: 29984984 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.8b02124] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Mercury (Hg) remains hazardous in aquatic environments because of its biomagnification in food webs. Nonetheless, Hg uptake and impact in primary producers is still poorly understood. Here, we compared the cellular toxicity of inorganic and methyl Hg (IHg and MeHg, respectively) in the aquatic plant Elodea nuttallii. IHg and MeHg regulated contigs involved in similar categories (e.g., energy metabolism, development, transport, secondary metabolism), but MeHg regulated more contigs, supporting a higher molecular impact than IHg. At the organism level, MeHg induced antioxidants, while IHg decreased chlorophyll content. The uptake of Hg and expression of a subset of contigs was subsequently studied in complex media. Measured uptake pointed to a contrasted impact of cell walls and copper (Cu) on IHg and MeHg. Using a speciation modeling, differences in uptake were attributed to the differences in affinities of IHg and MeHg to organic matter in relation to Cu speciation. We also identified a distinct gene expression signature for IHg, MeHg, and Cu, further supporting different molecular toxicity of these trace elements. Our data provided fundamental knowledge on IHg and MeHg uptake in a key aquatic primary producer and confirmed the potential of transcriptomics to assess Hg exposure in environmentally realistic systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rébecca Beauvais-Flück
- Department F.-A. Forel for environmental and aquatic sciences, Earth and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Sciences , University of Geneva , CH-1211 Geneva , Switzerland
| | - Vera I Slaveykova
- Department F.-A. Forel for environmental and aquatic sciences, Earth and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Sciences , University of Geneva , CH-1211 Geneva , Switzerland
| | - Ulf Skyllberg
- Department of Forest Ecology and Management , Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences , 901 83 Umeå , Sweden
| | - Claudia Cosio
- Department F.-A. Forel for environmental and aquatic sciences, Earth and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Sciences , University of Geneva , CH-1211 Geneva , Switzerland
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Griboff J, Wunderlin DA, Monferran MV. Phytofiltration of As 3+, As 5+, and Hg by the aquatic macrophyte Potamogeton pusillus L, and its potential use in the treatment of wastewater. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PHYTOREMEDIATION 2018; 20:914-921. [PMID: 29873542 DOI: 10.1080/15226514.2018.1448360] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
The aim of this paper was to investigate the capacity of the aquatic macrophyte Potamogeton pusillus to remove As3+, As5+, and Hg from aqueous solutions. The plants were exposed to 0 mg.L-1, 0.1 mg.L-1, 0.5 mg.L-1, 1 mg.L-1, or 2 mg.L-1 of As3+, As5+, and Hg for 20 days. The results obtained for the individual removal of As3+, As5+, and Hg from water solutions, together with their accumulation in P. pusillus, indicate that this plant can be effectively used for the removal of Hg and of moderate concentrations of As3+ or As5+ (0.1 mg.L-1) from aquatic systems. Roots and leaves accumulated the highest amount of As when the plant was exposed to As5+, but when it was exposed to As3+, the root accumulated the highest amount of As, and the leaves, the highest amount of Hg. When compared to other aquatic plants species, the results showed that P. pusillus demonstrated a higher Hg accumulation (2465 ± 293 µg.g-1) when the transfer coefficient was 40,580 ± 3762 L.kg -1, showing the great potential of this macrophyte for phytoremediation of water contaminated with Hg. To the extent of our knowledge, this is the first report on bioaccumulation of As3+, As5+, and Hg by P. pusillus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julieta Griboff
- a ICYTAC- Instituto de Ciencia y Tecnologia de Alimentos Córdoba, CONICET , Córdoba , Argentina
- b Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba , Córdoba , Argentina
| | - Daniel A Wunderlin
- a ICYTAC- Instituto de Ciencia y Tecnologia de Alimentos Córdoba, CONICET , Córdoba , Argentina
- b Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba , Córdoba , Argentina
| | - Magdalena V Monferran
- a ICYTAC- Instituto de Ciencia y Tecnologia de Alimentos Córdoba, CONICET , Córdoba , Argentina
- b Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba , Córdoba , Argentina
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Beauvais-Flück R, Slaveykova VI, Cosio C. Effects of two-hour exposure to environmental and high concentrations of methylmercury on the transcriptome of the macrophyte Elodea nuttallii. AQUATIC TOXICOLOGY (AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS) 2018; 194:103-111. [PMID: 29172129 DOI: 10.1016/j.aquatox.2017.11.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2017] [Revised: 11/10/2017] [Accepted: 11/16/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
The effects of two methylmercury (CH3Hg+, MeHg) concentrations, representative of environmental level and extreme contamination, were investigated on the macrophyte Elodea nuttallii during a 2h-exposure combining transcriptomic (RNA-Seq), physiological endpoints (pigment contents, activity of anti-oxidative stress enzymes) and bioaccumulation. Exposure to MeHg induced the up- and down-regulation of numerous genes (4389 and 16853 for 10ngL-1 and 10μgL-1 MeHg exposure, respectively) involved in sugar, amino acid and secondary metabolism (e.g. cinnamic acid, flavonoids) at both concentrations. Genes coding for photosynthesis, membrane integrity, metal homeostasis, water transport and anti-oxidative enzymes were additionally up- and down-regulated at the higher concentration. At the physiological level, exposure to both MeHg concentrations resulted in a strong increase of anthocyanin content in shoots. Chlorophyll content and antioxidant enzyme activities were unchanged. The data suggest that the macrophyte was able to efficiently cope with the stress resulting from MeHg exposure, possibly by using anthocyanin as anti-oxidant and S-rich amino acids (such as cysteine and methionine) as chelators. Transcriptomics analysis enabled gaining novel insights on molecular effects of MeHg in primary producers, which are one of the main entry pathway of hazardous MeHg in aquatic food webs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca Beauvais-Flück
- Department F.-A. Forel for Environmental and Aquatic Sciences, Earth and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Sciences, University of Geneva, 66, Boulevard Carl-Vogt, 1211 Genève 4, Switzerland
| | - Vera I Slaveykova
- Department F.-A. Forel for Environmental and Aquatic Sciences, Earth and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Sciences, University of Geneva, 66, Boulevard Carl-Vogt, 1211 Genève 4, Switzerland
| | - Claudia Cosio
- Department F.-A. Forel for Environmental and Aquatic Sciences, Earth and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Sciences, University of Geneva, 66, Boulevard Carl-Vogt, 1211 Genève 4, Switzerland.
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26
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Dranguet P, Cosio C, Le Faucheur S, Beauvais-Flück R, Freiburghaus A, Worms IAM, Petit B, Civic N, Docquier M, Slaveykova VI. Transcriptomic approach for assessment of the impact on microalga and macrophyte of in-situ exposure in river sites contaminated by chlor-alkali plant effluents. WATER RESEARCH 2017; 121:86-94. [PMID: 28521238 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2017.05.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2016] [Revised: 05/02/2017] [Accepted: 05/08/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Water quality degradation is a worldwide problem, but risk evaluation of chronic pollution in-situ is still a challenge. The present study aimed to evaluate the potential of transcriptomic analyses in representative aquatic primary producers to assess the impact of environmental pollution in-situ: the microalga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii and the macrophyte Elodea nuttallii were exposed 2 h in the Babeni Reservoir of the Olt River impacted by chlor-alkali plant effluent release resulting in increased concentrations of Hg and NaCl in receiving water. The response at the transcriptomic level was strong, resulting in up to 5485, and 8700 dysregulated genes (DG) for the microalga and for the macrophyte exposed in the most contaminated site, respectively. Transcriptomic response was congruent with the concentrations of Hg and NaCl in the water of the impacted reservoir. Genes involved in development, energy metabolism, lipid metabolism, nutrition, and RedOx homeostasis were dysregulated during in-situ exposure of both organisms. In addition, genes involved in the cell motility of C. reinhardtii and development of the cell wall of E. nuttallii were affected. DG were in line with adverse outcome pathways and transcriptomic studies reported after exposure to high concentrations of Hg and NaCl under controlled conditions in the laboratory. Transcriptomic response provided a sensitive measurement of the exposure as well as hints on the tolerance mechanisms of environmental pollution, and is thus promising as an early-warning tool to assess water quality degradation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Perrine Dranguet
- Environmental Biogeochemistry and Ecotoxicology, Department F.-A. Forel for Environmental and Aquatic Sciences, Earth and Environment Sciences, Faculty of Sciences, University of Geneva, Uni Carl Vogt, 66 Bvd. Carl-Vogt, 1211 Geneva 4, Switzerland
| | - Claudia Cosio
- Environmental Biogeochemistry and Ecotoxicology, Department F.-A. Forel for Environmental and Aquatic Sciences, Earth and Environment Sciences, Faculty of Sciences, University of Geneva, Uni Carl Vogt, 66 Bvd. Carl-Vogt, 1211 Geneva 4, Switzerland.
| | - Séverine Le Faucheur
- Environmental Biogeochemistry and Ecotoxicology, Department F.-A. Forel for Environmental and Aquatic Sciences, Earth and Environment Sciences, Faculty of Sciences, University of Geneva, Uni Carl Vogt, 66 Bvd. Carl-Vogt, 1211 Geneva 4, Switzerland
| | - Rebecca Beauvais-Flück
- Environmental Biogeochemistry and Ecotoxicology, Department F.-A. Forel for Environmental and Aquatic Sciences, Earth and Environment Sciences, Faculty of Sciences, University of Geneva, Uni Carl Vogt, 66 Bvd. Carl-Vogt, 1211 Geneva 4, Switzerland
| | - Aline Freiburghaus
- Environmental Biogeochemistry and Ecotoxicology, Department F.-A. Forel for Environmental and Aquatic Sciences, Earth and Environment Sciences, Faculty of Sciences, University of Geneva, Uni Carl Vogt, 66 Bvd. Carl-Vogt, 1211 Geneva 4, Switzerland
| | - Isabelle A M Worms
- Environmental Biogeochemistry and Ecotoxicology, Department F.-A. Forel for Environmental and Aquatic Sciences, Earth and Environment Sciences, Faculty of Sciences, University of Geneva, Uni Carl Vogt, 66 Bvd. Carl-Vogt, 1211 Geneva 4, Switzerland
| | - Brice Petit
- iGE3 Genomics Platform, University of Geneva Medical School - CMU, 1 rue Michel Servet, CH-1211 Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Natacha Civic
- iGE3 Genomics Platform, University of Geneva Medical School - CMU, 1 rue Michel Servet, CH-1211 Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Mylène Docquier
- iGE3 Genomics Platform, University of Geneva Medical School - CMU, 1 rue Michel Servet, CH-1211 Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Vera I Slaveykova
- Environmental Biogeochemistry and Ecotoxicology, Department F.-A. Forel for Environmental and Aquatic Sciences, Earth and Environment Sciences, Faculty of Sciences, University of Geneva, Uni Carl Vogt, 66 Bvd. Carl-Vogt, 1211 Geneva 4, Switzerland.
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Beauvais-Flück R, Gimbert F, Méhault O, Cosio C. Trophic fate of inorganic and methyl-mercury in a macrophyte-chironomid food chain. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2017; 338:140-147. [PMID: 28550790 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2017.05.028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/26/2016] [Revised: 05/15/2017] [Accepted: 05/16/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Dietary transfer of mercury (Hg) is central for its effects on higher trophic animals, nonetheless, its driving parameters and characteristics are not well understood. Here we measured Hg species transfer (uptake) from the macrophyte Elodea nuttallii -mimicking tissues incorporation in sediments after decay- to Chironomus riparius. Methyl-Hg (MMHg) was more transferable than inorganic Hg (IHg) from plant's intracellular and cell wall compartments. After 10-d-long exposure, MMHg was predominantly found in MMHg form in the cytosolic compartment (S) of chironomids, while IHg showed similar concentrations in S and insoluble debris (P) compartments. After cessation of Hg species exposure (depuration), only MMHg resulted in a bioaccumulation factor >1. Toxicokinetics modelling indicated a demethylation of MMHg in the S fraction and its concomitant storage in the P fraction as IHg during both uptake and depuration, revealing an elimination and detoxification mechanism. Our data support that MMHg is more transferable than IHg to sensitive subcellular targets as well as bioavailable fraction in chironomids, in line with field studies showing higher MMHg transfer than IHg in food webs. Hence our data point out macrophytes as a potential Hg source to benthic food webs to be considered for enhancing aquatic environment protection during phytoremediation programs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca Beauvais-Flück
- Department F.-A. Forel for Environmental and Aquatic Sciences, Earth and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Sciences, University of Geneva, 66 bd Carl-Vogt, CH-1211 Geneva 4, Switzerland.
| | - Frédéric Gimbert
- Laboratoire Chrono-environnement, UMR 6249 CNRS/Université Bourgogne Franche-Comté, 16 route de Gray, F-25030 Besançon Cedex, France.
| | - Ophélie Méhault
- Department F.-A. Forel for Environmental and Aquatic Sciences, Earth and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Sciences, University of Geneva, 66 bd Carl-Vogt, CH-1211 Geneva 4, Switzerland.
| | - Claudia Cosio
- Department F.-A. Forel for Environmental and Aquatic Sciences, Earth and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Sciences, University of Geneva, 66 bd Carl-Vogt, CH-1211 Geneva 4, Switzerland.
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Zhang T, Lu Q, Su C, Yang Y, Hu D, Xu Q. Mercury induced oxidative stress, DNA damage, and activation of antioxidative system and Hsp70 induction in duckweed (Lemna minor). ECOTOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY 2017; 143:46-56. [PMID: 28500894 DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2017.04.058] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2017] [Revised: 04/26/2017] [Accepted: 04/28/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Mercury uptake and its effects on physiology, biochemistry and genomic stability were investigated in Lemna minor after 2 and 6d of exposure to 0-30μM Hg. The accumulation of Hg increased in a concentration- and duration-dependent manner, and was positively correlated with the leaf damage. Oxidative stress after Hg exposure was evidenced in L. minor by a significant decrease in photosynthetic pigments, an increase in malondialdehyde and lipoxygenase activities (total enzyme activity and isoenzymes activity). Fronds of L. minor exposed to Hg showed an induction of peroxidase, catalase, and ascorbate peroxidase activities (total enzyme activity and some isoenzymes activities). Exposure of L. minor to Hg reduced the activity (total enzyme activity and some isoenzymes activities) of glutathione reductase, and superoxide dismutase. Exposure to Hg produced a transient increase in the content of glutathione and ascorbic acid. The content of dehydroascorbate and oxidized glutathione in L. minor were high during the entire exposure period. Exposure of L. minor to Hg also caused the accumulation of proline and soluble sugars. The amplification of new bands and the absence of normal DNA amplicons in treated plants in the random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) profile indicated that genomic template stability (GTS) was affected by Hg treatment. The accumulation of Hsp70 indicated the occurrence of a heat shock response at all Hg concentrations. These results suggest that L. minor plants were able to cope with Hg toxicity through the activation of various mechanisms involving enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidants, up-regulation of proline, and induction of Hsp70.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tingting Zhang
- College of Life Science, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing 210023, PR China
| | - Qianqian Lu
- College of Life Science, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing 210023, PR China
| | - Chunlei Su
- College of Life Science, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing 210023, PR China
| | - Yaru Yang
- College of Life Science, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing 210023, PR China
| | - Dan Hu
- College of Life Science, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing 210023, PR China
| | - Qinsong Xu
- College of Life Science, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing 210023, PR China.
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Cellular toxicity pathways of inorganic and methyl mercury in the green microalga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii. Sci Rep 2017; 7:8034. [PMID: 28808314 PMCID: PMC5556115 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-08515-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2017] [Accepted: 06/16/2017] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Contamination by mercury (Hg) is a worldwide concern because of Hg toxicity and biomagnification in aquatic food webs. Nevertheless, bioavailability and cellular toxicity pathways of inorganic (IHg) and methyl-Hg (MeHg) remain poorly understood. We analyzed the uptake, transcriptomic, and physiological responses in the microalga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii exposed to IHg or MeHg. Bioavailability of MeHg was up to 27× higher than for IHg. Genes involved in cell processes, energy metabolism and transport were dysregulated by both Hg species. Physiological analysis revealed an impact on photosynthesis and reduction–oxidation reaction metabolism. Nevertheless, MeHg dysregulated a larger number of genes and with a stronger fold-change than IHg at equivalent intracellular concentration. Analysis of the perturbations of the cell’s functions helped to derive a detailed mechanistic understanding of differences in cellular handling of IHg and MeHg resulting in MeHg having a stronger impact. This knowledge is central for the prediction of impact of toxicants on organisms.
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Beauvais-Flück R, Chaumot A, Gimbert F, Quéau H, Geffard O, Slaveykova VI, Cosio C. Role of cellular compartmentalization in the trophic transfer of mercury species in a freshwater plant-crustacean food chain. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2016; 320:401-407. [PMID: 27585272 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2016.08.055] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2016] [Revised: 08/19/2016] [Accepted: 08/21/2016] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
Mercury (Hg) represents an important risk for human health through the food webs contamination. Macrophytes bioaccumulate Hg and play a role in Hg transfer to food webs in shallow aquatic ecosystems. Nevertheless, the compartmentalization of Hg within macrophytes, notably major accumulation in the cell wall and its impact on trophic transfer to primary consumers are overlooked. The present work focusses on the trophic transfer of inorganic Hg (IHg) and monomethyl-Hg (MMHg) from the intracellular and cell wall compartments of the macrophyte Elodea nuttallii - considered a good candidate for phytoremediation - to the crustacean Gammarus fossarum. The results demonstrated that Hg accumulated in both compartments was trophically bioavailable to gammarids. Besides IHg from both compartments were similarly transferred to G. fossarum, while for MMHg, uptake rates were ∼2.5-fold higher in G. fossarum fed with the cell wall vs the intracellular compartment. During the depuration phase, Hg concentrations in G. fossarum varied insignificantly suggesting that both IHg and MMHg were strongly bound to biological ligands in the crustacean. Our data imply that cell walls have to be considered as an important source of Hg to consumers in freshwater food webs when developing procedures for enhancing aquatic environment protection during phytoremediation programs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca Beauvais-Flück
- Environmental Biogeochemistry and Ecotoxicology, Institute F.-A. Forel, Earth and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Sciences, University of Geneva, 66 bd Carl-Vogt, CH-1205 Geneva, Switzerland.
| | - Arnaud Chaumot
- Irstea, UR MALY Milieux Aquatiques, ÿcologie et Pollutions, Centre de Lyon-Villeurbanne, F-69616 Villeurbanne, France.
| | - Frédéric Gimbert
- Department of Chrono-Environment, University of Bourgogne Franche-Comté, UMR UFC/CNRS 6249 USC INRA, 16 route de Gray, F-25030 Besançon Cedex, France.
| | - Hervé Quéau
- Irstea, UR MALY Milieux Aquatiques, ÿcologie et Pollutions, Centre de Lyon-Villeurbanne, F-69616 Villeurbanne, France.
| | - Olivier Geffard
- Irstea, UR MALY Milieux Aquatiques, ÿcologie et Pollutions, Centre de Lyon-Villeurbanne, F-69616 Villeurbanne, France.
| | - Vera I Slaveykova
- Environmental Biogeochemistry and Ecotoxicology, Institute F.-A. Forel, Earth and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Sciences, University of Geneva, 66 bd Carl-Vogt, CH-1205 Geneva, Switzerland.
| | - Claudia Cosio
- Environmental Biogeochemistry and Ecotoxicology, Institute F.-A. Forel, Earth and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Sciences, University of Geneva, 66 bd Carl-Vogt, CH-1205 Geneva, Switzerland.
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Regier N, Beauvais-Flück R, Slaveykova VI, Cosio C. Elodea nuttallii exposure to mercury exposure under enhanced ultraviolet radiation: Effects on bioaccumulation, transcriptome, pigment content and oxidative stress. AQUATIC TOXICOLOGY (AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS) 2016; 180:218-226. [PMID: 27744139 DOI: 10.1016/j.aquatox.2016.10.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2016] [Revised: 09/16/2016] [Accepted: 10/01/2016] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
The hypothesis that increased UV radiation result in co-tolerance to Hg toxicity in aquatic plants was studied at the physiological and transcriptomic level in Elodea nuttallii. At the transcriptomic level, combined exposure to UV+Hg enhanced the stress response in comparison with single treatments, affecting the expression level of transcripts involved in energy metabolism, lipid metabolism, nutrition, and redox homeostasis. Single and combined UV and Hg treatments dysregulated different genes but with similar functions, suggesting a fine regulation of the plant to stresses triggered by Hg, UV and their combination but lack of co-tolerance. At the physiological level, UV+Hg treatment reduced chlorophyll content and depleted antioxidative compounds such as anthocyanin and GSH/GSSG in E. nuttallii. Nonetheless, combined exposure to UV+Hg resulted in about 30% reduction of Hg accumulation into shoots vs exposure to Hg alone, which was congruent with the level of expression of several transporter genes, as well as the UV effect on Hg bioavailability in water. The findings of the present work underlined the importance of performing experimentation under environmentally realistic conditions and to consider the interplay between contaminants and environmental variables such as light that might have confounding effects to better understand and anticipate the effects of multiple stressors in aquatic environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicole Regier
- Environmental Biogeochemistry and Ecotoxicology, Institute F.-A. Forel, Earth and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Sciences, University of Geneva, 66 boulevard Carl-Vogt, CH-1211 Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Rebecca Beauvais-Flück
- Environmental Biogeochemistry and Ecotoxicology, Institute F.-A. Forel, Earth and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Sciences, University of Geneva, 66 boulevard Carl-Vogt, CH-1211 Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Vera I Slaveykova
- Environmental Biogeochemistry and Ecotoxicology, Institute F.-A. Forel, Earth and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Sciences, University of Geneva, 66 boulevard Carl-Vogt, CH-1211 Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Claudia Cosio
- Environmental Biogeochemistry and Ecotoxicology, Institute F.-A. Forel, Earth and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Sciences, University of Geneva, 66 boulevard Carl-Vogt, CH-1211 Geneva, Switzerland.
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Maillard F, Girardclos O, Assad M, Zappelini C, Pérez Mena JM, Yung L, Guyeux C, Chrétien S, Bigham G, Cosio C, Chalot M. Dendrochemical assessment of mercury releases from a pond and dredged-sediment landfill impacted by a chlor-alkali plant. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2016; 148:122-126. [PMID: 27038833 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2016.03.034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2015] [Revised: 03/09/2016] [Accepted: 03/24/2016] [Indexed: 05/15/2023]
Abstract
Although current Hg emissions from industrial activities may be accurately monitored, evidence of past releases to the atmosphere must rely on one or more environmental proxies. We used Hg concentrations in tree cores collected from poplars and willows to investigate the historical changes of Hg emissions from a dredged sediment landfill and compared them to a nearby control location. Our results demonstrated the potential value of using dendrochemistry to record historical Hg emissions from past industrial activities.
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Affiliation(s)
- François Maillard
- Laboratoire Chrono-Environnement (UMR 6249), Université de Bourgogne Franche-Comté, Pôle Universitaire du Pays de Montbéliard, 4 Place Tharradin, BP 71427, 25211 Montbéliard, France
| | - Olivier Girardclos
- Laboratoire Chrono-Environnement (UMR 6249), Université de Bourgogne Franche-Comté, Pôle Universitaire du Pays de Montbéliard, 4 Place Tharradin, BP 71427, 25211 Montbéliard, France
| | - Mohamad Assad
- Laboratoire Chrono-Environnement (UMR 6249), Université de Bourgogne Franche-Comté, Pôle Universitaire du Pays de Montbéliard, 4 Place Tharradin, BP 71427, 25211 Montbéliard, France
| | - Cyril Zappelini
- Laboratoire Chrono-Environnement (UMR 6249), Université de Bourgogne Franche-Comté, Pôle Universitaire du Pays de Montbéliard, 4 Place Tharradin, BP 71427, 25211 Montbéliard, France
| | - Julia Maria Pérez Mena
- Laboratoire Chrono-Environnement (UMR 6249), Université de Bourgogne Franche-Comté, Pôle Universitaire du Pays de Montbéliard, 4 Place Tharradin, BP 71427, 25211 Montbéliard, France
| | - Loïc Yung
- Laboratoire Chrono-Environnement (UMR 6249), Université de Bourgogne Franche-Comté, Pôle Universitaire du Pays de Montbéliard, 4 Place Tharradin, BP 71427, 25211 Montbéliard, France
| | - Christophe Guyeux
- Département d'Informatique des Systèmes Complexes, Institut FEMTO-ST (UMR 6174 CNRS), Université de Bourgogne Franche-Comté, 16 Route de Gray, 25030 Besançon Cedex, France
| | - Stéphane Chrétien
- Laboratoire de Mathématiques de Besancon, Université de Bourgogne Franche-Comté, 16 Route de Gray, 25030 Besançon Cedex, France
| | - Gary Bigham
- Exponent, Inc., 15375 SE 30th Place, Suite 250, Bellevue, WA 98007, USA
| | - Claudia Cosio
- Institute F.-A. Forel, University of Geneva, 10 Route de Suisse, CP 416, CH-1290 Versoix, Switzerland
| | - Michel Chalot
- Laboratoire Chrono-Environnement (UMR 6249), Université de Bourgogne Franche-Comté, Pôle Universitaire du Pays de Montbéliard, 4 Place Tharradin, BP 71427, 25211 Montbéliard, France; Université de Lorraine, Faculté des Sciences et Technologies, BP 70239, 54506 Vandoeuvre-les-Nancy, France.
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Andresen E, Kappel S, Stärk HJ, Riegger U, Borovec J, Mattusch J, Heinz A, Schmelzer CEH, Matoušková Š, Dickinson B, Küpper H. Cadmium toxicity investigated at the physiological and biophysical levels under environmentally relevant conditions using the aquatic model plant Ceratophyllum demersum. THE NEW PHYTOLOGIST 2016; 210:1244-1258. [PMID: 26840406 DOI: 10.1111/nph.13840] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2015] [Accepted: 12/03/2015] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
Cadmium (Cd) is an important environmental pollutant and is poisonous to most organisms. We aimed to unravel the mechanisms of Cd toxicity in the model water plant Ceratophyllum demersum exposed to low (nM) concentrations of Cd as are present in nature. Experiments were conducted under environmentally relevant conditions, including nature-like light and temperature cycles, and a low biomass to water ratio. We measured chlorophyll (Chl) fluorescence kinetics, oxygen exchange, the concentrations of reactive oxygen species and pigments, metal binding to proteins, and the accumulation of starch and metals. The inhibition threshold concentration for most parameters was 20 nM. Below this concentration, hardly any stress symptoms were observed. The first site of inhibition was photosynthetic light reactions (the maximal quantum yield of photosystem II (PSII) reaction centre measured as Fv /Fm , light-acclimated PSII activity ΦPSII , and total Chl). Trimers of the PSII light-harvesting complexes (LHCIIs) decreased more than LHC monomers and detection of Cd in the monomers suggested replacement of magnesium (Mg) by Cd in the Chl molecules. As a consequence of dysfunctional photosynthesis and energy dissipation, reactive oxygen species (superoxide and hydrogen peroxide) appeared. Cadmium had negative effects on macrophytes at much lower concentrations than reported previously, emphasizing the importance of studies applying environmentally relevant conditions. A chain of inhibition events could be established.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elisa Andresen
- Department of Plant Biophysics and Biochemistry, Institute of Plant Molecular Biology, Biology Centre of the CAS, Branišovská 31/1160, České Budějovice, CZ-37005, Czech Republic
- Department of Biology, University of Konstanz, Konstanz, D-78457, Germany
| | - Sophie Kappel
- Department of Biology, University of Konstanz, Konstanz, D-78457, Germany
| | - Hans-Joachim Stärk
- Department of Analytical Chemistry, UFZ - Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research, Permoserstr. 15, Leipzig, D-04318, Germany
| | - Ulrike Riegger
- Department of Biology, University of Konstanz, Konstanz, D-78457, Germany
| | - Jakub Borovec
- Department of Hydrochemistry and Ecosystem Modelling, Institute of Hydrobiology, Biology Centre of the CAS, Na Sádkách 7, České Budějovice, CZ-37005, Czech Republic
- Department of Ecosystem Biology, Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia, Branišovská 1760, České Budějovice, CZ-37005, Czech Republic
| | - Jürgen Mattusch
- Department of Analytical Chemistry, UFZ - Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research, Permoserstr. 15, Leipzig, D-04318, Germany
| | - Andrea Heinz
- Institute of Pharmacy, Martin-Luther-Universität Halle-Wittenberg, Wolfgang-Langenbeck-Str. 4, Halle (Saale), D-06120, Germany
| | - Christian E H Schmelzer
- Institute of Pharmacy, Martin-Luther-Universität Halle-Wittenberg, Wolfgang-Langenbeck-Str. 4, Halle (Saale), D-06120, Germany
| | - Šárka Matoušková
- Institute of Geology of the CAS, Rozvojová 269, Praha 6 - Lysolaje, CZ-16500, Czech Republic
| | - Bryan Dickinson
- Department of Chemistry, The University of Chicago, GCIS E 319A, 929 E. 57th St., Chicago, IL, 60637, USA
| | - Hendrik Küpper
- Department of Plant Biophysics and Biochemistry, Institute of Plant Molecular Biology, Biology Centre of the CAS, Branišovská 31/1160, České Budějovice, CZ-37005, Czech Republic
- Department of Biology, University of Konstanz, Konstanz, D-78457, Germany
- Faculty of Biological Science, University of South Bohemia, Branišovská 31/1160, České Budějovice, CZ-37005, Czech Republic
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Bravo AG, Loizeau JL, Dranguet P, Makri S, Björn E, Ungureanu VG, Slaveykova VI, Cosio C. Persistent Hg contamination and occurrence of Hg-methylating transcript (hgcA) downstream of a chlor-alkali plant in the Olt River (Romania). ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2016; 23:10529-10541. [PMID: 26662302 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-015-5906-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2015] [Accepted: 11/30/2015] [Indexed: 05/16/2023]
Abstract
Chlor-alkali plants using mercury (Hg) cell technology are acute point sources of Hg pollution in the aquatic environment. While there have been recent efforts to reduce the use of Hg cells, some of the emitted Hg can be transformed to neurotoxic methylmercury (MeHg). Here, we aimed (i) to study the dispersion of Hg in four reservoirs located downstream of a chlor-alkali plant along the Olt River (Romania) and (ii) to track the activity of bacterial functional genes involved in Hg methylation. Total Hg (THg) concentrations in water and sediments decreased successively from the initial reservoir to downstream reservoirs. Suspended fine size particles and seston appeared to be responsible for the transport of THg into downstream reservoirs, while macrophytes reflected the local bioavailability of Hg. The concentration and proportion of MeHg were correlated with THg, but were not correlated with bacterial activity in sediments, while the abundance of hgcA transcript correlated with organic matter and Cl(-) concentration, indicating the importance of Hg bioavailability in sediments for Hg methylation. Our data clearly highlights the importance of considering Hg contamination as a legacy pollutant since there is a high risk of continued Hg accumulation in food webs long after Hg-cell phase out.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea G Bravo
- Limnology/Department of Ecology and Genetics, Uppsala University, Norbyvägen 18D, 75236, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Jean-Luc Loizeau
- Institute F.-A. Forel, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Geneva, 10, Route de Suisse, 1290, Versoix, Switzerland
| | - Perrine Dranguet
- Institute F.-A. Forel, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Geneva, 10, Route de Suisse, 1290, Versoix, Switzerland
| | - Stamatina Makri
- Institute F.-A. Forel, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Geneva, 10, Route de Suisse, 1290, Versoix, Switzerland
| | - Erik Björn
- Department of Chemistry, Umeå University, SE-90187, Umeå, Sweden
| | - Viorel Gh Ungureanu
- Faculty of Geology and Geophysics, University of Bucharest, Bucharest, Romania
- GeoEcoMar, National Research and Development Institute for Marine Geology and Geoecology, Bucharest, Romania
| | - Vera I Slaveykova
- Institute F.-A. Forel, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Geneva, 10, Route de Suisse, 1290, Versoix, Switzerland
| | - Claudia Cosio
- Institute F.-A. Forel, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Geneva, 10, Route de Suisse, 1290, Versoix, Switzerland.
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Abstract
Metal toxicity in plants is still a global problem for the environment, agriculture and ultimately human health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hendrik Küpper
- Biology Center of the Czech Academy of Sciences
- Institute of Plant Molecular Biology
- Department of Plant Biophysics & Biochemistry
- 370 05 České Budějovice, Czech Republic
- University of South Bohemia
| | - Elisa Andresen
- Biology Center of the Czech Academy of Sciences
- Institute of Plant Molecular Biology
- Department of Plant Biophysics & Biochemistry
- 370 05 České Budějovice, Czech Republic
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Török A, Gulyás Z, Szalai G, Kocsy G, Majdik C. Phytoremediation capacity of aquatic plants is associated with the degree of phytochelatin polymerization. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2015; 299:371-8. [PMID: 26143200 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2015.06.042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2015] [Revised: 06/12/2015] [Accepted: 06/18/2015] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
Phytochelatins (PCs) play important role in phytoremediation as heavy metal binding peptides. In the present study, the association between heavy metal removal capacity and phytochelatin synthesis was compared through the examination of three aquatic plants: Elodea canadensis, Salvinia natans and Lemna minor. In case of a Cd treatment, or a Cd treatment combined with Cu and Zn, the highest removal capacity was observed in L. minor. At the same time, E. canadensis showed the lowest removal capacity except for Zn. The heavy metal-induced (Cu+Zn+Cd) oxidative stress generated the highest ascorbate level in L. minor. Cd in itself or combined with the other two metals induced a 10-15-fold increase in the amount of ɣ-glutamylcysteine in L. minor while no or smaller changes were observed in the other two species. Correspondingly, the total PC content was 6-8-fold greater in L. minor. In addition, PCs with higher degree of polymerization were only observed in L. minor (PC4, PC6 and PC7) while PC2 and PC3 occurred in E. canadensis and S. natans only. The correlation analysis indicated that the higher phytoremediation capacity of L. minor was associated with the synthesis of PCs and their higher degree of polymerization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anamaria Török
- Department of Technological Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Babeş-Bolyai University, Cluj-Napoca, Romania; Agricultural Institute, Centre for Agricultural Research, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Martonvásár, Hungary
| | - Zsolt Gulyás
- Agricultural Institute, Centre for Agricultural Research, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Martonvásár, Hungary
| | - Gabriella Szalai
- Agricultural Institute, Centre for Agricultural Research, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Martonvásár, Hungary
| | - Gábor Kocsy
- Agricultural Institute, Centre for Agricultural Research, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Martonvásár, Hungary.
| | - Cornelia Majdik
- Department of Technological Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Babeş-Bolyai University, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
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Regier N, Cosio C, von Moos N, Slaveykova VI. Effects of copper-oxide nanoparticles, dissolved copper and ultraviolet radiation on copper bioaccumulation, photosynthesis and oxidative stress in the aquatic macrophyte Elodea nuttallii. CHEMOSPHERE 2015; 128:56-61. [PMID: 25655819 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2014.12.078] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2014] [Revised: 12/19/2014] [Accepted: 12/24/2014] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
In this study, the uptake and sub-toxic effects of CuO nanoparticles (CuO-NPs), dissolved Cu(II) alone or in combination with UV radiation on the aquatic macrophyte Elodea nuttallii were studied. Emphasis was on Cu accumulation, growth, photosynthesis and the oxidative stress related enzymes peroxidase (POD) and superoxide dismutase (SOD). The results showed stronger Cu accumulation in plants exposed to 10 mg L(-1) CuO-NPs, corresponding to 1.4-2 mg L(-1) dissolved Cu(II), than to 256 μg L(-1) Cu(II). However, the ratio between the accumulated Cu and dissolved Cu in CuO treatments was lower than in Cu(II) treatments. Additional UV exposure increased accumulation in both treatments, with the effect being stronger for Cu accumulation from CuO-NPs than for dissolved Cu(II). Photosynthetic capacity was strongly reduced by UV treatment, whereas remained unaffected by Cu(II) or CuO-NP treatments. Similarly, the increase of SOD activity was more pronounced in the UV treatments. On the other hand, POD activity enhancement was strongest in the plants exposed to CuO-NPs for 24 h. Expression of the copper transporter COPT1 as revealed by RT-qPCR was inhibited by Cu(II) and CuO-NP treatment, limiting the uptake of excess Cu into the cells. Overall, the combined exposure of E. nuttallii to UV radiation with CuO-NPs or Cu(II) has a higher impact than exposure to CuO-NPs or Cu(II) alone. The results imply that heavy pollution of natural water with CuO-NPs or dissolved Cu might have stronger effects in combination with natural UV irradiation on organisms in situ.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicole Regier
- Environmental Biogeochemistry and Ecotoxicology, Institute F.-A. Forel, Earth and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Sciences, University of Geneva, 10, route de Suisse, CH-1290 Versoix, Switzerland.
| | - Claudia Cosio
- Environmental Biogeochemistry and Ecotoxicology, Institute F.-A. Forel, Earth and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Sciences, University of Geneva, 10, route de Suisse, CH-1290 Versoix, Switzerland
| | - Nadia von Moos
- Environmental Biogeochemistry and Ecotoxicology, Institute F.-A. Forel, Earth and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Sciences, University of Geneva, 10, route de Suisse, CH-1290 Versoix, Switzerland
| | - Vera I Slaveykova
- Environmental Biogeochemistry and Ecotoxicology, Institute F.-A. Forel, Earth and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Sciences, University of Geneva, 10, route de Suisse, CH-1290 Versoix, Switzerland.
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38
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Zhang J, Zhang T, Lu Q, Cai S, Chu W, Qiu H, Xu T, Li F, Xu Q. Oxidative effects, nutrients and metabolic changes in aquatic macrophyte, Elodea nuttallii, following exposure to lanthanum. ECOTOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY 2015; 115:159-165. [PMID: 25700094 DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2015.02.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2014] [Revised: 02/05/2015] [Accepted: 02/06/2015] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
We investigated the phytoremediation potential of Elodea nuttallii to remove rare earth metals from contaminated water. The laboratory experiments were designed to assess the responses induced by lanthanum (5-20mgL(-1)) in E. nuttallii over a period of 7 days. The results showed that most La (approximately 85%) was associated with the cell wall. The addition of La to the culture medium reduced the concentration of K, Ca, Cu, Mg, and Mn. However, O2(·-) levels increased with a concomitant increase in the malondialdehyde (MDA) concentration as the La concentration increased, which indicated that the cells were under oxidative stress. Significant reductions in the levels of chlorophyll (Chl) a, b, and carotenoids (Car) were observed in a concentration-dependent manner. However, the levels of reduced glutathione (GSH), total non-protein thiols (TNP-SH) and phytochelatins (PCs) increased for all La concentrations. The results suggested that La was toxic to E. nuttallii because it induced oxidative stress and disturbed mineral uptake. However, E. nuttallii was able to combat La induced damage via an immobilization mechanism, which involved the cell wall and the activation of non-enzymatic antioxidant.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jingjing Zhang
- School of Life Sciences, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Tingting Zhang
- School of Life Sciences, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Qianqian Lu
- School of Life Sciences, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Sanjuan Cai
- School of Life Sciences, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Weiyue Chu
- School of Life Sciences, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Han Qiu
- School of Life Sciences, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Ting Xu
- School of Life Sciences, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Feifei Li
- School of Life Sciences, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Qinsong Xu
- School of Life Sciences, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing 210023, China.
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Zheng M, Feng L, He J, Chen M, Zhang J, Zhang M, Wang J. Delayed geochemical hazard: a tool for risk assessment of heavy metal polluted sites and case study. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2015; 287:197-206. [PMID: 25661167 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2015.01.060] [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: 10/29/2014] [Revised: 12/31/2014] [Accepted: 01/27/2015] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
A concept of delayed geochemical hazard (DGH) was proposed instead of chemical time bomb to represent an ecological and environmental hazard caused by sudden reactivation and release of long-term accumulated pollutants in soil/sediment system due to the change of physicochemical conditions or the decrease of environmental capacity. A DGH model was also established to provide a quantitative tool to assess and predict potential environmental risk caused by heavy metals and especially its dynamic evolutions. A case study of DGH was carried out for a mercury-polluted area in southern China. Results of soil column experiment showed that DGH was directly resulted from the transformation and release of pollutant from the releasable species to the active ones through a mechanism of chain reaction. The most possible chain reaction was summarized as HgE+C+F+O+R→HgE+C+F+O→HgE+C+F→HgE+C→HgE. Although 8.3% of the studied area with the total releasable content of mercury (TRCPHg) exceeded the DGH critical point value of 16.667mg/kg, with the possibility of DGH burst, the area was classified as low-risk of DGH. This confirmed that DGH model could contribute to the risk assessment and early warning of soil/sediment pollution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mingxia Zheng
- Department of Environmental Engineering, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing 100029, PR China.
| | - Liu Feng
- Department of Environmental Engineering, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing 100029, PR China.
| | - Juanni He
- Department of Environmental Engineering, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing 100029, PR China
| | - Ming Chen
- Institute of Mineral Resources, Chinese Academy of Geological Sciences, Beijing 100037, PR China
| | - Jiawen Zhang
- Institute of Mineral Resources, Chinese Academy of Geological Sciences, Beijing 100037, PR China
| | - Minying Zhang
- Department of Environmental Engineering, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing 100029, PR China
| | - Jing Wang
- Department of Environmental Engineering, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing 100029, PR China
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Dominik J, Tagliapietra D, Bravo AG, Sigovini M, Spangenberg JE, Amouroux D, Zonta R. Mercury in the food chain of the Lagoon of Venice, Italy. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2014; 88:194-206. [PMID: 25287224 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2014.09.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2013] [Revised: 09/03/2014] [Accepted: 09/06/2014] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
Sediments and biota samples were collected in a restricted area of the Lagoon of Venice and analysed for total mercury, monomethyl mercury (MMHg), and nitrogen and carbon isotopes. Results were used to examine mercury biomagnification in a complex food chain. Sedimentary organic matter (SOM) proved to be a major source of nutrients and mercury to primary consumers. Contrary to inorganic mercury, MMHg was strongly biomagnified along the food chain, although the lognormal relationship between MMHg and δ(15)N was less constrained than generally reported from lakes or coastal marine ecosystems. The relationship improved when logMMHg concentrations were plotted against trophic positions derived from baseline δ(15)N estimate for primary consumers. From the regression slope a mean MMHg trophic magnification factor of 10 was obtained. Filter-feeding benthic bivalves accumulated more MMHg than other primary consumers and were probably important in MMHg transfer from sediments to higher levels of the food chain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Janusz Dominik
- Istituto di Scienze Marine - Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Arsenale - Tesa 104, Castello 2737/F 30122 Venezia, Italy; Institute F.-A. Forel, Université de Genève, CP 416, 1290 Versoix, Switzerland.
| | - Davide Tagliapietra
- Istituto di Scienze Marine - Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Arsenale - Tesa 104, Castello 2737/F 30122 Venezia, Italy
| | - Andrea G Bravo
- Institute F.-A. Forel, Université de Genève, CP 416, 1290 Versoix, Switzerland
| | - Marco Sigovini
- Istituto di Scienze Marine - Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Arsenale - Tesa 104, Castello 2737/F 30122 Venezia, Italy
| | - Jorge E Spangenberg
- Institute of Earth Surface Dynamics, University of Lausanne, CH 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - David Amouroux
- IPREM-LCABIE, UMR 5254 CNRS - Université de Pau et des Pays de l'Adour, Hélioparc, 2 av P. Angot, 64053 Pau, France
| | - Roberto Zonta
- Istituto di Scienze Marine - Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Arsenale - Tesa 104, Castello 2737/F 30122 Venezia, Italy
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Jirsa F, Pirker D, Krachler R, Keppler BK. Total mercury in sediments, macrophytes, and fish from a shallow steppe lake in eastern Austria. Chem Biodivers 2014; 11:1263-75. [PMID: 25146770 DOI: 10.1002/cbdv.201400172] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2014] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
During summer 2011, samples of sediment, macrophytes, and fish tissues from the shallow, slightly alkaline Lake Neusiedl, Austria, were evaluated for their total Hg content. This is the first report of Hg levels from this lake. Sediments displayed Hg contents between 0.025 and 0.113 μg g(-1) dw (dry weight), significantly correlating with the proportion of organic components pointing to a small anthropogenic impact on the lake's Hg content. Hg Levels in plants and fish were unexpectedly high: both investigated submerged plant species, Potamogeton pectinatus and Myriophyllum spicatum, showed mean values of 0.245 ± 0.152 and 0.298 ± 0.115 μg g(-1) dw, respectively. Biomagnification was evident when comparing muscle samples of the planktivorous fish species rudd Scardinus erythrophthalmus (n = 10, mean = 0.084 μg g(-1) ww (wet weight)) with the piscivorous perch Perca fluviatilis (n = 21, mean = 0.184 μg g(-1) ww) or pike-perch Sander lucioperca (n = 9, mean = 0.205 μg g(-1) ww). Significantly lower values were found in the muscle of the piscivorous pike Esox lucius (n = 25, mean = 0.135 μg g(-1) ww), pointing to a specific Hg metabolism of this fish, presumably under the particular physicochemical properties of the lake. Hg Concentrations in fish could pose a risk to piscivorous birds in this protected wetland system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Franz Jirsa
- University of Vienna, Institute of Inorganic Chemistry, Währingerstrasse 42, A-1090 Vienna, (phone: +43-1-427752627; fax: +43-1-427752620); University of Johannesburg, Department of Zoology, P.O. Box 524, Auckland Park, 2006 South Africa.
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Wang X, Tam NFY, Fu S, Ametkhan A, Ouyang Y, Ye Z. Selenium addition alters mercury uptake, bioavailability in the rhizosphere and root anatomy of rice (Oryza sativa). ANNALS OF BOTANY 2014; 114:271-8. [PMID: 24948669 PMCID: PMC4111379 DOI: 10.1093/aob/mcu117] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIMS Mercury (Hg) is an extremely toxic pollutant, especially in the form of methylmercury (MeHg), whereas selenium (Se) is an essential trace element in the human diet. This study aimed to ascertain whether addition of Se can produce rice with enriched Se and lowered Hg content when growing in Hg-contaminated paddy fields and, if so, to determine the possible mechanisms behind these effects. METHODS Two cultivars of rice (Oryza sativa, japonica and indica) were grown in either hydroponic solutions or soil rhizobags with different Se and Hg treatments. Concentrations of total Hg, MeHg and Se were determined in the roots, shoots and brown rice, together with Hg uptake kinetics and Hg bioavailability in the soil. Root anatonmy was also studied. KEY RESULTS The high Se treatment (5 μg g(-1)) significantly increased brown rice yield by 48 % and total Se content by 2·8-fold, and decreased total Hg and MeHg by 47 and 55 %, respectively, compared with the control treatments. The high Se treatment also markedly reduced 'water-soluble' Hg and MeHg concentrations in the rhizosphere soil, decreased the uptake capacity of Hg by roots and enhanced the development of apoplastic barriers in the root endodermis. CONCLUSIONS Addition of Se to Hg-contaminated soil can help produce brown rice that is simultaneously enriched in Se and contains less total Hg and MeHg. The lowered accumulation of total Hg and MeHg appears to be the result of reduced bioavailability of Hg and production of MeHg in the rhizosphere, suppression of uptake of Hg into the root cells and an enhancement of the development of apoplastic barriers in the endodermis of the roots.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xun Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol and Guangdong Key Laboratory of Plant Resources, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510006, PR China
| | - Nora Fung-Yee Tam
- Department of Biology and Chemistry, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, PR China State Key Laboratory in Marine Pollution, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, PR China
| | - Shi Fu
- Fine Arts College, Sichuan Normal University, Chengdu 610110, PR China
| | - Aray Ametkhan
- State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol and Guangdong Key Laboratory of Plant Resources, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510006, PR China
| | - Yun Ouyang
- State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol and Guangdong Key Laboratory of Plant Resources, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510006, PR China
| | - Zhihong Ye
- State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol and Guangdong Key Laboratory of Plant Resources, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510006, PR China
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43
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Cosio C, Flück R, Regier N, Slaveykova VI. Effects of macrophytes on the fate of mercury in aquatic systems. ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY AND CHEMISTRY 2014; 33:1225-1237. [PMID: 24375961 DOI: 10.1002/etc.2499] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2013] [Revised: 10/16/2013] [Accepted: 11/27/2013] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
Vegetated and shallow areas such as wetlands and salt marshes, as well as freshwater lakes and rivers, have been identified as hotspots for Hg methylation. The presence of aquatic macrophytes, the predominant primary producers in shallow waters, plays an important but still poorly understood role in the fate of Hg in these environments. The present review focuses on the influences of macrophytes on Hg speciation and distribution in sediments, the rhizosphere, and the water column; on Hg transformation; and on Hg release to the environment, including transfer to the trophic web. Future research will require an improved understanding of the mechanisms and the factors controlling these aspects as well as a broader general view. Thus, the main gaps in knowledge are also discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claudia Cosio
- Institute F.-A. Forel, Earth and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Sciences, University of Geneva, Versoix, Switzerland
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Bravo AG, Cosio C, Amouroux D, Zopfi J, Chevalley PA, Spangenberg JE, Ungureanu VG, Dominik J. Extremely elevated methyl mercury levels in water, sediment and organisms in a Romanian reservoir affected by release of mercury from a chlor-alkali plant. WATER RESEARCH 2014; 49:391-405. [PMID: 24216231 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2013.10.024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 70] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2013] [Revised: 09/17/2013] [Accepted: 10/09/2013] [Indexed: 05/25/2023]
Abstract
We examined mercury (Hg) biogeochemistry and biomagnification in the Babeni Reservoir, a system strongly affected by the release of Hg from a chlor-alkali plant. Total mercury (THg) concentrations in river water reached 88 ng L(-1) but decreased rapidly in the reservoir (to 9 ng L(-1)). In contrast, monomethylmercury (MMHg) concentrations increased from the upstream part of the reservoir to the central part (0.7 ng L(-1)), suggesting high methylation within the reservoir. Moreover, vertical water column profiles of THg and MMHg indicated that Hg methylation mainly occurred deep in the water column and at the sediment-water interface. The discharge of Hg from a chlor-alkali plant in Valcea region caused the highest MMHg concentrations ever found in non-piscivorous fish worldwide. MMHg concentrations and bioconcentration factors (BCF) of plankton and macrophytes revealed that the highest biomagnification of MMHg takes place in primary producers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Garcia Bravo
- Institute F.-A. Forel, University of Geneva, 10, Route de Suisse, 1290 Versoix, Switzerland.
| | - Claudia Cosio
- Institute F.-A. Forel, University of Geneva, 10, Route de Suisse, 1290 Versoix, Switzerland
| | - David Amouroux
- Laboratoire de Chimie Analytique Bio-Inorganique et Environnement, IPREM UMR 5254 CNRS - Université de Pau et des Pays de l'Adour, Hélioparc, 64053 Pau, France
| | - Jakob Zopfi
- Environmental Geosciences, University of Basel, Bernoullistrasse 30, 4056 Basel, Switzerland
| | | | - Jorge E Spangenberg
- Institute of Earth Sciences, University of Lausanne, 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | | | - Janusz Dominik
- Institute F.-A. Forel, University of Geneva, 10, Route de Suisse, 1290 Versoix, Switzerland
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Larras F, Regier N, Planchon S, Poté J, Renaut J, Cosio C. Physiological and proteomic changes suggest an important role of cell walls in the high tolerance to metals of Elodea nuttallii. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2013; 263 Pt 2:575-583. [PMID: 24225582 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2013.10.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2013] [Revised: 10/03/2013] [Accepted: 10/08/2013] [Indexed: 06/02/2023]
Abstract
Macrophytes bioaccumulate metals, the suggestion being made that they be considered for phytoremediation. However, a thorough understanding of the mechanisms of metal tolerance in these plants is necessary to allow full optimization of this approach. The present study was undertaken to gain insight into Hg and Cd accumulation and their effects in a representative macrophyte, Elodea nuttallii. Exposure to methyl-Hg (23 ng dm(-3)) had no significant effect while inorganic Hg (70 ng dm(-3)) and Cd (281 μg dm(-3)) affected root growth but did not affect shoots growth, photosynthesis, or antioxidant enzymes. Phytochelatins were confirmed as having a role in Cd tolerance in this plant while Hg tolerance seems to rely on different mechanisms. Histology and subcellular distribution revealed a localized increase in lignification, and an increased proportion of metal accumulation in cell wall over time. Proteomics further suggested that E. nuttallii was able to efficiently adapt its energy sources and the structure of its cells during Hg and Cd exposure. Storage in cell walls to protect cellular machinery is certainly predominant at environmental concentrations of metals in this plant resulting in a high tolerance highlighted by the absence of toxicity symptoms in shoots despite the significant accumulation of metals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Floriane Larras
- Institut F.-A. Forel, University of Geneva, 10, route de Suisse, CP 416, CH-1290 Versoix, Switzerland
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Regier N, Baerlocher L, Münsterkötter M, Farinelli L, Cosio C. Analysis of the Elodea nuttallii transcriptome in response to mercury and cadmium pollution: development of sensitive tools for rapid ecotoxicological testing. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2013; 47:8825-8834. [PMID: 23802634 DOI: 10.1021/es401082h] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/02/2023]
Abstract
Toxic metals polluting aquatic ecosystems are taken up by inhabitants and accumulate in the food web, affecting species at all trophic levels. It is therefore important to have good tools to assess the level of risk represented by toxic metals in the environment. Macrophytes are potential organisms for the identification of metal-responsive biomarkers but are still underrepresented in ecotoxicology. In the present study, we used next-generation sequencing to investigate the transcriptomic response of Elodea nuttallii exposed to enhanced concentrations of Hg and Cd. We de novo assembled more than 60 000 contigs, of which we found 170 to be regulated dose-dependently by Hg and 212 by Cd. Functional analysis showed that these genes were notably related to energy and metal homeostasis. Expression analysis using nCounter of a subset of genes showed that the gene expression pattern was able to assess toxic metal exposure in complex environmental samples and was more sensitive than other end points (e.g., bioaccumulation, photosynthesis, etc.). In conclusion, we demonstrate the feasibility of using gene expression signatures for the assessment of environmental contamination, using an organism without previous genetic information. This is of interest to ecotoxicology in a wider sense given the possibility to develop specific and sensitive bioassays.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicole Regier
- Institut F.-A. Forel, University of Geneva , 10 route de Suisse, CP416, 1290 Versoix, Switzerland
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Regier N, Frey B, Converse B, Roden E, Grosse-Honebrink A, Bravo AG, Cosio C. Effect of Elodea nuttallii roots on bacterial communities and MMHg proportion in a Hg polluted sediment. PLoS One 2012; 7:e45565. [PMID: 23029102 PMCID: PMC3444453 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0045565] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2012] [Accepted: 08/20/2012] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
The objective of this study was to assess the effect of a rooted macrophyte Elodea nuttallii on rhizosphere bacterial communities in Hg contaminated sediments. Specimens of E. nuttallii were exposed to sediments from the Hg contaminated Babeni reservoir (Olt River, Romania) in our microcosm. Plants were allowed to grow for two months until they occupied the entirety of the sediments. Total Hg and MMHg were analysed in sediments where an increased MMHg percentage of the total Hg in pore water of rhizosphere sediments was found. E. nuttallii roots also significantly changed the bacterial community structure in rhizosphere sediments compared to bulk sediments. Deltaproteobacteria dominated the rhizosphere bacterial community where members of Geobacteraceae within the Desulfuromonadales and Desulfobacteraceae were identified. Two bacterial operational taxonomic units (OTUs) which were phylogenetically related to sulfate-reducing bacteria (SRB) became abundant in the rhizosphere. We suggest that these phylotypes could be potentially methylating bacteria and might be responsible for the higher MMHg percentage of the total Hg in rhizosphere sediments. However, SRB were not significantly favoured in rhizosphere sediments as shown by qPCR. Our findings support the hypothesis that rooted macrophytes created a microenvironment favorable for Hg methylation. The presence of E. nuttallii in Hg contaminated sediments should therefore not be overlooked.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicole Regier
- F.-A. Forel Institute, Geneva University, Versoix, Switzerland
| | - Beat Frey
- Swiss Federal Research Institute WSL, Birmensdorf, Switzerland
| | - Brandon Converse
- Department of Geoscience, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, United States of America
| | - Eric Roden
- Department of Geoscience, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, United States of America
| | | | | | - Claudia Cosio
- F.-A. Forel Institute, Geneva University, Versoix, Switzerland
- * E-mail:
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