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Xu Z, Zhang Z, Wang X. Ecotoxicological effects of soil lithium on earthworm Eisenia fetida: Lethality, bioaccumulation, biomarker responses, and histopathological changes. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2023; 330:121748. [PMID: 37127236 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2023.121748] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2023] [Revised: 04/24/2023] [Accepted: 04/28/2023] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
Lithium is an emerging environmental contaminant in the current low-carbon economy, but little is known about its influences on soil invertebrates. In this work, earthworm Eisenia fetida was exposed to soils treated with different levels of lithium for 7 d, and multiple ecotoxicological parameters were evaluated. The results showed that mortality was dose-dependent and lithium's median lethal content (LC50) to earthworm was respectively 865.08, 361.01, 139.36, and 94.95 mg/kg after 1 d, 2 d, 4 d, and 7 d exposure. The bioaccumulation factor based on measured exogenous lithium content (BFexog) respectively reached 0.79, 1.01, 1.57, and 1.27 with the increasing lithium levels, suggesting that lithium accumulation was averagely 1.16-fold to the exogenous content, and 74.42%∼81.19%, 14.54%∼18.23%, and 2.26%∼8.02% of the lithium in exposed earthworms were respectively retained in the cytosol, debris, and granule. Then, lithium stress stimulated the activity of superoxide dismutase, peroxidase, catalase, acetylcholinesterase, and glutathione S-transferase as well as the content of 8-hydroxy-2-deoxyguanosine and metallothionein, indicating the generation of oxidative damage, while the content of reactive oxygen species and malondialdehyde decreased. Finally, lithium introduced histopathological changes, including the degenerated seminal vesicle and muscle hyperplasia, as well as high or extreme nuclear DNA damage. This study confirmed the obvious bioaccumulation and toxic effects caused by soil lithium via ecotoxicological data, providing new theoretical insights into understanding the ecological risks of lithium to soil invertebrates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhinan Xu
- Center for Urban Eco-planning and Design, Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Ziqi Zhang
- Center for Urban Eco-planning and Design, Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Xiangrong Wang
- Center for Urban Eco-planning and Design, Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
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Swart E, Martell E, Svendsen C, Spurgeon DJ. Soil Ecotoxicology Needs Robust Biomarkers: A Meta-Analysis Approach to Test the Robustness of Gene Expression-Based Biomarkers for Measuring Chemical Exposure Effects in Soil Invertebrates. ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY AND CHEMISTRY 2022; 41:2124-2138. [PMID: 35698918 PMCID: PMC9543370 DOI: 10.1002/etc.5402] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2021] [Revised: 03/01/2022] [Accepted: 05/31/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Gene expression-based biomarkers are regularly proposed as rapid, sensitive, and mechanistically informative tools to identify whether soil invertebrates experience adverse effects due to chemical exposure. However, before biomarkers could be deployed within diagnostic studies, systematic evidence of the robustness of such biomarkers to detect effects is needed. In our study, we present an approach for conducting a meta-analysis of the robustness of gene expression-based biomarkers in soil invertebrates. The approach was developed and trialed for two measurements of gene expression commonly proposed as biomarkers in soil ecotoxicology: earthworm metallothionein (MT) gene expression for metals and earthworm heat shock protein 70 (HSP70) gene expression for organic chemicals. We collected 294 unique gene expression data points from the literature and used linear mixed-effect models to assess concentration, exposure duration, and species effects on the quantified response. The meta-analysis showed that the expression of earthworm MT was strongly metal concentration dependent, stable over time and species independent. The metal concentration-dependent response was strongest for cadmium, indicating that this gene is a suitable biomarker for this metal. For copper, no clear concentration-dependent response of MT gene expression in earthworms was found, indicating MT is not a reliable biomarker for this metal. For HSP70, overall marginal up-regulation and lack of a concentration-dependent response indicated that this gene is not suitable as a biomarker for organic pollutant effects in earthworms. The present study demonstrates how meta-analysis can be used to assess the status of biomarkers. We encourage colleagues to apply this open-access approach to other biomarkers, as such quantitative assessment is a prerequisite to ensuring that the suitability and limitations of proposed biomarkers are known and stated. Environ Toxicol Chem 2022;41:2124-2138. © 2022 The Authors. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of SETAC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elmer Swart
- UK Centre for Ecology and HydrologyWallingfordUK
| | - Ellie Martell
- United Kingdom Department for EnvironmentFood & Rural AffairsLondonUK
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Hussain N, Chatterjee SK, Maiti TK, Goswami L, Das S, Deb U, Bhattacharya SS. Metal induced non-metallothionein protein in earthworm: A new pathway for cadmium detoxification in chloragogenous tissue. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2021; 401:123357. [PMID: 32634662 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2020.123357] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2020] [Revised: 06/10/2020] [Accepted: 06/29/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Earthworms neutralize toxic metals by a small (∼13 kDa) cysteine rich metal binding protein, metallothionein (MT). Although the rate of metal accumulation and MT expression does not correlate well, the reason behind such inconsistency has not yet been deciphered. The present investigation clearly demonstrates that expression of some non-MT metal induced proteins is responsible for such incongruity. Applying selective protein isolation techniques in fluorescence tagged cadmium exposed (135 mg/kg) earthworms we were able to purify a 150 kDa metal induced protein (MIP) among others. After 60 days of exposure cadmium accumulation in earthworm intestines was significant. Immunofluorescence staining followed by confocal microscopy exhibited that MIP accumulates ingested cadmium in the intestinal region and eventually deposits the metal in the chloragogenous tissue. We determined the N-terminal sequence of 15 amino acid residues and after bioinformatics analysis, it was concluded that MIP is most probably a glutamic acid rich, novel cadmium binding protein. To further validate the binding mechanism, we conducted paper chromatography and continuous variation experiments which evidenced that cadmium readily binds to glutamic acid. The present finding is the first in-vivo evidence of a non-metallothionein cadmium binding protein induced in the intestines of earthworm exposed to a cadmium rich environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nazneen Hussain
- Soil and Agro Bio-engineering Lab, Department of Environmental Science, Tezpur University, Tezpur, 784028, India; Department of Bio-Sciences, Assam Don Bosco University, Sonapur, 782402, India
| | | | - Tushar Kanti Maiti
- Regional Centre for Biotechnology, NCR Biotech Science Cluster, Faridabad, 121001, India
| | - Linee Goswami
- Department of Botany, Visva-Bharati, Santiniketan, 731235, India
| | - Subhasish Das
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Pachhunga University College (Mizoram University), Aizawl, 796001, Mizoram, India
| | - Utsab Deb
- Defense Research Laboratory (DRDO), Tezpur, Assam, India
| | - Satya Sundar Bhattacharya
- Soil and Agro Bio-engineering Lab, Department of Environmental Science, Tezpur University, Tezpur, 784028, India.
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Zhao H, Wang M, Pang M, Sun J, Huang Y, Gao F, Yang D, Zhou Y, Wang B. Quantitative immunodetection of metalloprotein II in Perinereis aibuhitensis after heavy metal exposure. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2020; 160:111550. [PMID: 32889508 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2020.111550] [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: 12/13/2019] [Revised: 08/04/2020] [Accepted: 08/04/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
The metal detoxification mechanism is essential for the accumulation activity of some polychaetes. In order to investigate the detoxification function of metalloprotein II in polychaete Perinereis aibuhitensis, a recombinant fusion protein of MP II was successfully expressed in vitro and an anti-MP II polyclonal antibody was got. The tissue distribution of MP II in P. aibuhitensis and the protein expression under Cd, Pb and Zn exposure were detected by ELISA with this antibody. The results showed that MP II was higher in the intestine of P. aibuhitensis, followed by the body wall and parapodium. Cd, Zn and Pb exposure can induced MP II expression, but the change trend of MP II under various heavy metal exposure was different. The amount of MP II induced in P. aibuhitensis increased with the rises of Cd concentration, but there is no significant relationship between Zn and Pb concentration and MP II level.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huan Zhao
- Key laboratory of Marine Bio-resource Restoration and Habitat Reparation in Liaoning province, Dalian Ocean University, Dalian 116023, PR China
| | - Mengting Wang
- Key laboratory of Marine Bio-resource Restoration and Habitat Reparation in Liaoning province, Dalian Ocean University, Dalian 116023, PR China
| | - Min Pang
- Key Laboratory of Science and Engineering for the Marine Ecological Environment, First Institute of Oceanography, Ministry of Natural Resources, Qingdao 266061, PR China
| | - Jia Sun
- Key laboratory of Marine Bio-resource Restoration and Habitat Reparation in Liaoning province, Dalian Ocean University, Dalian 116023, PR China
| | - Yi Huang
- Key laboratory of Marine Bio-resource Restoration and Habitat Reparation in Liaoning province, Dalian Ocean University, Dalian 116023, PR China
| | - Fan Gao
- Key laboratory of Marine Bio-resource Restoration and Habitat Reparation in Liaoning province, Dalian Ocean University, Dalian 116023, PR China
| | - Dazuo Yang
- Key laboratory of Marine Bio-resource Restoration and Habitat Reparation in Liaoning province, Dalian Ocean University, Dalian 116023, PR China
| | - Yibing Zhou
- Key laboratory of Marine Bio-resource Restoration and Habitat Reparation in Liaoning province, Dalian Ocean University, Dalian 116023, PR China
| | - Bin Wang
- Key laboratory of Marine Bio-resource Restoration and Habitat Reparation in Liaoning province, Dalian Ocean University, Dalian 116023, PR China.
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Hattab S, Boughattas I, Mkhinini M, Banni M. Impact of Intensive Farming on Soil Heavy Metal Accumulation and Biomarkers Responses of Earthworms Eisenia andrei. BULLETIN OF ENVIRONMENTAL CONTAMINATION AND TOXICOLOGY 2020; 105:559-564. [PMID: 32974765 DOI: 10.1007/s00128-020-03000-x] [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: 03/26/2020] [Accepted: 09/16/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
In this work, we propose to evaluate the effect of agriculture intensification under greenhouses on the biochemical and transcriptomic responses of the earthworms Eisenia andrei. This work was conducted on two sites in Téboulba and Sahline (Monastir governorate) and a control site in an experimental plot that is undergoing organic farming. For this purpose, the earthworms Eisenia andrei were exposed to the soils during 7 and 14 days. The physicochemical properties of the soils were analyzed. The biochemical biomarkers of metallothioneins (MTs) and malondialdehyde (MDA) accumulations were also assessed. Moreover, the gene expression level of the MTs was analyzed. The results of our study revealed a significant trace element accumulation accompanied by a high level of MDA and MT proteins. Moreover, a significant expression of the MT gene was observed in earthworms exposed to the soils from Sahline and Téboulba. Hence, this work reveals that intensive agriculture can affect the biological responses of earthworms and consequently, the soil's biofertility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sabrine Hattab
- Regional Research Centre in Horticulture and Organic Agriculture, Chott-Mariem, 4042, Sousse, Tunisia
| | - Iteb Boughattas
- Laboratory of Biochemistry and Environmental Toxicology, Higher Institute of Agronomy, 4042, Chott-Meriem, Tunisia.
| | - Marouane Mkhinini
- Laboratory of Biochemistry and Environmental Toxicology, Higher Institute of Agronomy, 4042, Chott-Meriem, Tunisia
| | - Mohamed Banni
- Laboratory of Biochemistry and Environmental Toxicology, Higher Institute of Agronomy, 4042, Chott-Meriem, Tunisia
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Ex-situ induction of Metallothionein gene in Lybiodrilus violaceous post cadmium and zinc exposure. GENE REPORTS 2020. [DOI: 10.1016/j.genrep.2020.100701] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
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Kaur H, Sharma S, Vijaya P. Toxicological effect of Parthenium hysterophorus and milk processing industry sludge on earthworms, Eisenia fetida. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2020; 27:33464-33473. [PMID: 31062245 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-019-05222-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2018] [Accepted: 04/17/2019] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Production of large quantities of organic waste all over the world poses major environmental and disposal problems. The present study was conducted to explore the deleterious effects of Parthenium hysterophorus and milk processing industry sludge on the health of earthworm, Eisenia fetida. Earthworms were allowed to grow in the mixture of cow dung:Parthenium hysterophorus (75:25) and cow dung:milk processing industry sludge (60:40) for 60 days. The biochemical markers viz. superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels and histological changes in earthworm's intestine were assessed after 15, 30, 45, and 60 days of exposure. The results revealed increased MDA level, while SOD, CAT, and GPx activities showed variation in both treatments. Furthermore, histopathological changes revealed damage in the intestinal tissue in both treatments during all intervals. More severe effects were registered in P. hysterophorus treatment. Obtained results may contribute to the understanding of P. hysterophorus and milk processing industry sludge induced toxic effects on earthworms and to identify defense mechanism of Eisenia fetida.
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Affiliation(s)
- Harsimran Kaur
- Department of Zoology & Environmental Sciences, Punjabi University, Patiala, Punjab, 147002, India.
| | - Suman Sharma
- Department of Zoology & Environmental Sciences, Punjabi University, Patiala, Punjab, 147002, India
| | - Puttaganti Vijaya
- Department of Zoology & Environmental Sciences, Punjabi University, Patiala, Punjab, 147002, India
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DeBenedictis CA, Raab A, Ducie E, Howley S, Feldmann J, Grabrucker AM. Concentrations of Essential Trace Metals in the Brain of Animal Species-A Comparative Study. Brain Sci 2020; 10:E460. [PMID: 32709155 PMCID: PMC7407190 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci10070460] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2020] [Revised: 07/13/2020] [Accepted: 07/14/2020] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
The essential trace metals iron, zinc, and copper have a significant physiological role in healthy brain development and function. Especially zinc is important for neurogenesis, synaptogenesis, synaptic transmission and plasticity, and neurite outgrowth. Given the key role of trace metals in many cellular processes, it is important to maintain adequate levels in the brain. However, the physiological concentration of trace metals, and in particular zinc, in the human and animal brain is not well described so far. For example, little is known about the trace metal content of the brain of animals outside the class of mammals. Here, we report the concentration of iron, zinc, and copper in fresh brain tissue of different model-species of the phyla Chordata (vertebrates (mammals, fish)), Annelida, Arthropoda (insects), and Mollusca (snails), using inductively coupled plasma mass-spectrometry (ICP-MS). Our results show that the trace metals are present in the nervous system of all species and that significant differences can be detected between species of different phyla. We further show that a region-specific distribution of metals within the nervous system already exists in earthworms, hinting at a tightly controlled metal distribution. In line with this, the trace metal content of the brain of different species does not simply correlate with brain size. We conclude that although the functional consequences of the controlled metal homeostasis within the brain of many species remains elusive, trace metal biology may not only play an important role in the nervous system of mammals but across the whole animal kingdom.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chiara Alessia DeBenedictis
- Cellular Neurobiology and Neuro-Nanotechnology Lab, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Limerick, V94PH61 Limerick, Ireland; (C.A.D.); (E.D.); (S.H.)
- Bernal Institute, University of Limerick, V94T9PX Limerick, Ireland
| | - Andrea Raab
- Trace Element Speciation Laboratory (TESLA), Department of Chemistry, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen AB24 3UE, UK; (A.R.); (J.F.)
- Institute of Chemistry, University of Graz, A-8010 Graz, Austria
- Institute of Chemistry, Environmental Analytical Chemistry, University of Graz, 8010 Graz, Austria
| | - Ellen Ducie
- Cellular Neurobiology and Neuro-Nanotechnology Lab, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Limerick, V94PH61 Limerick, Ireland; (C.A.D.); (E.D.); (S.H.)
| | - Shauna Howley
- Cellular Neurobiology and Neuro-Nanotechnology Lab, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Limerick, V94PH61 Limerick, Ireland; (C.A.D.); (E.D.); (S.H.)
| | - Joerg Feldmann
- Trace Element Speciation Laboratory (TESLA), Department of Chemistry, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen AB24 3UE, UK; (A.R.); (J.F.)
- Institute of Chemistry, University of Graz, A-8010 Graz, Austria
- Institute of Chemistry, Environmental Analytical Chemistry, University of Graz, 8010 Graz, Austria
| | - Andreas Martin Grabrucker
- Cellular Neurobiology and Neuro-Nanotechnology Lab, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Limerick, V94PH61 Limerick, Ireland; (C.A.D.); (E.D.); (S.H.)
- Bernal Institute, University of Limerick, V94T9PX Limerick, Ireland
- Health Research Institute (HRI), University of Limerick, V94T9PX Limerick, Ireland
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Chai L, Yang Y, Yang H, Zhao Y, Wang H. Transcriptome analysis of genes expressed in the earthworm Eisenia fetida in response to cadmium exposure. CHEMOSPHERE 2020; 240:124902. [PMID: 31563721 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2019.124902] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2019] [Revised: 09/15/2019] [Accepted: 09/17/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Eisenia fetida earthworm is an ecotoxicologically important test species to monitor various pollutants. However, there is a little knowledge about the effects of cadmium (Cd) on earthworms at the transcriptional level. Firstly, we exposed E. fetida to soils supplemented with different concentrations (10, 30, 60 mg/kg soil) of Cd. Moreover, we depicted the characterization of gene expressions with E. fetida using high-throughput profiling of gene expression. In addition, a comparison of the gene expression profiles between each Cd treatment group and the control group suggested that differential expressional genes (DEGs) mainly enriched in enzyme activity, metabolism, oxidative stress, regeneration and apoptosis pathways. 8 DEGs from these pathways had been selected randomly to confirm the data of RNA-seq. Among these DEGs, six genes (metallothionein-2, phytochelatin synthase 1a, CuZn superoxide dismutase, sex determining region Y-box 2, sex determining region Y-box 4b, TP53-regulated inhibitor of apoptosis 1-like) up-regulated and 2 genes (beta-1,4-endoglucanase, apoptosis-stimulating of p53 protein 2-like) down-regulated in response to Cd exposure. The alteration of them indicated that earthworms could reduce the toxicity and bioavailability of Cd in polluted soil ecosystems through different pathways. This work lays an important foundation for linking earthworm transcriptional level with the ecological risk of Cd in soil ecosystem.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lihong Chai
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Chang'an University, Xi'an, 710054, China; Key Laboratory of Subsurface Hydrology and Ecological Effect in Arid Region of Ministry of Education, Chang'an University, Xi'an, 710054, China; Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Land Consolidation, Xi'an, 710054, China.
| | - Yijie Yang
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Chang'an University, Xi'an, 710054, China; Key Laboratory of Subsurface Hydrology and Ecological Effect in Arid Region of Ministry of Education, Chang'an University, Xi'an, 710054, China
| | - Hongyu Yang
- College of Life Sciences, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi'an, 710119, China
| | - Yonghua Zhao
- Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Land Consolidation, Xi'an, 710054, China
| | - Hongyuan Wang
- College of Life Sciences, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi'an, 710119, China
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Bart S, Pelosi C, Nélieu S, Lamy I, Péry ARR. An energy-based model to analyze growth data of earthworms exposed to two fungicides. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2020; 27:741-750. [PMID: 31811607 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-019-06985-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: 05/27/2019] [Accepted: 11/06/2019] [Indexed: 05/14/2023]
Abstract
The pesticide risk assessment for earthworms is currently performed using standardized tests, the model species Eisenia fetida, and the analyses of the data obtained are performed with ad hoc statistical tools. We assessed the impact of two fungicides on the entire growth pattern of the earthworm species Aporrectodea caliginosa, which is highly representative of agricultural fields. Individuals of three different ages (from hatching to 56 days old) were exposed to Cuprafor micro® (copper oxychloride) and Swing® Gold (dimoxystrobin and epoxiconazole). Data were analyzed with an energy-based toxicodynamic model coupled with a toxicokinetic model. The copper fungicide caused a drastic growth inhibition once the no effect concentration (NEC), estimated at 65 mg kg-1 of copper, was exceeded. The Swing® Gold negatively affected the growth with NEC values estimated at 0.387 mg kg-1 and 0.128 mg kg-1 for the dimoxystrobin and the epoxiconazole in this fungicide formulation, respectively. The time-profile of the effects on A. caliginosa individuals was fully accounted for by the model, whatever their age of exposure. Furthermore, toxicity data analyses, supported by measurements of fungicide concentrations in earthworm at the end of the experiment, allowed bettering understanding of the mechanisms of action of the fungicides towards earthworm growth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sylvain Bart
- UMR ECOSYS, INRA, AgroParisTech, Université Paris-Saclay, 78026, Versailles, France.
| | - Céline Pelosi
- UMR ECOSYS, INRA, AgroParisTech, Université Paris-Saclay, 78026, Versailles, France
- UMR EMMAH, INRA, Université d'Avignon et des Pays de Vaucluse, 84914, Avignon, France
| | - Sylvie Nélieu
- UMR ECOSYS, INRA, AgroParisTech, Université Paris-Saclay, 78026, Versailles, France
| | - Isabelle Lamy
- UMR ECOSYS, INRA, AgroParisTech, Université Paris-Saclay, 78026, Versailles, France
| | - Alexandre R R Péry
- UMR ECOSYS, INRA, AgroParisTech, Université Paris-Saclay, 78026, Versailles, France
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Abstract
The coelomic cavity is part of the main body plan of annelids. This fluid filled space takes up a considerable volume of the body and serves as an important site of exchange of both metabolites and proteins. In addition to low molecular substances such as amino acids and glucose and lactate, the coelomic fluid contains different proteins that can arise through release from adjacent tissues (intestine) or from secretion by coelomic cells. In this chapter, we will review the current knowledge about the proteins in the annelid coelomic fluid. Given the number of more than 20,000 extant annelid species, existing studies are confined to a relatively few species. Most studies on the oligochaetes are confined to the earthworms-clearly because of their important role in soil biology. In the polychaetes (which might represent a paraphyletic group) on the other hand, studies have focused on a few species of the Nereidid family. The proteins present in the coelomic fluid serve different functions and these have been studied in different taxonomic groups. In oligochaetes, proteins involved antibacterial defense such as lysenin and fetidin have received much attention in past and ongoing studies. In polychaetes, in contrast, proteins involved in vitellogenesis and reproduction, and the vitellogenic function of coelomic cells have been investigated in more detail. The metal binding metallothioneins as well as antimicrobial peptides, have been investigated in both oligochaetes and polychaetes. In the light of the literature available, this review will focus on lipoproteins, especially vitellogenin, and proteins involved in defense reactions. Other annelid groups such as the Pogonophora, Echiura, and Sipuncula (now considered polychaetes), have not received much attention and therefore, this overview is far from being complete.
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Świątek ZM, Bednarska AJ. Energy reserves and respiration rate in the earthworm Eisenia andrei after exposure to zinc in nanoparticle or ionic form. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2019; 26:24933-24945. [PMID: 31243653 PMCID: PMC6689315 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-019-05753-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2019] [Accepted: 06/12/2019] [Indexed: 04/12/2023]
Abstract
The energy budget is an indicator of an organism's overall condition. Changes in energy reserves and/or energy consumption have been used as biomarkers of toxic stress. To understand the effects of different forms and concentrations of Zn and the costs of effective Zn regulation by the earthworm Eisenia andrei, we performed a toxicokinetic experiment in which individuals were sampled over time to determine the available energy reserves (total carbohydrate, protein, and lipid content), energy consumption (measured at the cellular level and as the whole-animal respiration rate), and internal Zn concentration. The earthworms were exposed to ZnCl2 or zinc nanoparticles (ZnO-NPs) in Lufa 2.2 soil for 21 days (contamination phase), followed by 14 days of elimination in clean soil (decontamination phase). Carbohydrates were the only energy reserves with significantly lower levels following ZnO-NP 1000 treatment than following other treatments (p ≤ 0.00001) in the contamination phase. The total available energy reserves and protein content did not differ among treatments, but a significant effect of exposure time was observed (p ≤ 0.0001). Exposure to Zn (both ions and NPs) increased energy consumption at the cellular level, reflecting the high energy demand of the stress response. The results indicated that E. andrei can regulate internal Zn concentrations efficiently, regardless of form or concentration, without considerable impact on energy reserves or respiration rate.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zuzanna M Świątek
- Institute of Environmental Sciences, Jagiellonian University, Gronostajowa 7, 30-387, Kraków, Poland.
| | - Agnieszka J Bednarska
- Institute of Nature Conservation, Polish Academy of Sciences, Mickiewicza 33, 31-120, Kraków, Poland
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Hackenberger DK, Feigl V, Lončarić Ž, Hackenberger BK. Biochemical and reproductive effects of red mud to earthworm Eisenia fetida. ECOTOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY 2019; 168:279-286. [PMID: 30390526 DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2018.10.097] [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] [Received: 08/03/2018] [Revised: 10/08/2018] [Accepted: 10/25/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Red mud (RM) is the main waste of alumina production whose disposal poses a problem. The research of various possible effects of red mud on soil organisms has been scarce. We have exposed earthworms (Eisenia fetida) to red mud: artificial soil mixtures. The tested samples of red mud were of different origin: Croatian (CRRM) and Hungarian (HURM). The effects of exposure on the metabolic and oxidative status of earthworms were measured using several biochemical biomarkers (acetylcholinesterase, catalase and glutathione S-transferase activity and metallothionenin content) and reproductive success was assessed upon counting the number of hatched juveniles. The LC50 value for CRRM was 40% and for HURM 62% of red mud in the growth medium on weight basis, respectively. A significant effect (p < 0.001) of the RM concentration and origin, as well as significant interactions between the origin of RM and the applied concentrations on all measured biomarkers were observed. CRRM had a higher content of different metals as well as a higher conductivity in comparison to HURM. The reproduction was inhibited after exposure to both RMs. Namely, 25% CRRM caused a 53.26% reduction in the number of juveniles, whereas 18% HURM caused a 68.84% reduction, and 50% HURM caused 97.9% reduction, respectively. Both RMs caused changes in the measured biomarkers related to an oxidative stress. Consequently, the possible adverse effects on soil organisms before the environmental application of red mud should be assessed to avoid further environmental damage.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Viktoria Feigl
- Budapest University of Technology and Economics, Faculty of Chemical Technology and Biotechnology, Department of Applied Biotechnology and Food Science, Műegyetem Rkp. 3, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Željka Lončarić
- University of Osijek, Department of Biology, Cara Hadrijana 8A, Osijek, Croatia
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Rorat A, Vandenbulcke F, Gałuszka A, Klimek B, Plytycz B. Protective role of metallothionein during regeneration in Eisenia andrei exposed to cadmium. Comp Biochem Physiol C Toxicol Pharmacol 2017; 203:39-50. [PMID: 29038073 DOI: 10.1016/j.cbpc.2017.10.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2017] [Revised: 10/02/2017] [Accepted: 10/04/2017] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Lumbricid earthworms are often exposed to simultaneous action of various environmental stressors like soil contamination, temperature fluctuation or predators' attacks, which may induce extrusion of coelomocyte-containing coelomic fluid or loss of tail segments. If the injuries are not lethal, renewal of the immune-competent cells and soluble components of coelomic fluid and/or the regeneration of tail segments occurs. The aim of our investigations was to test the hypothesis that exposure of adult earthworms Eisenia andrei to cadmium-polluted soil at room temperature (RT) and/or low temperature (6°C) have adverse effects on restoration of experimentally depleted coelomocytes or on regeneration of amputated posterior segments. Intact control earthworms and their experimental counterparts subjected to electrostimulation-induced coelomocyte depletion or surgical amputation of posterior segments were maintained either in control soil or in soil spiked with cadmium chloride (500mg/kg air-dried soil) at RT or 6°C. Four weeks after the beginning of experiments, cadmium accumulation in earthworm bodies was significantly lower at 6°C than at room temperature. The numbers of restored cells and fluorophore contents were hardly affected by temperature or cadmium. However, cocoon production was reduced by cadmium and completely abolished at 6°C and regeneration of amputated posterior segments was inhibited in cold but was enhanced by cadmium exposure at RT. Independently on the temperature, the 4-week cadmium exposure of adult earthworms was connected with significantly upregulated expression of Cd-metallothionein (but not of catalase, lysenin and phytochelatin) in coelomocytes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Agnieszka Rorat
- Institute of Environmental Engineering, Czestochowa University of Technology, Czestochowa, Poland; Université de Lille, Sciences et Technologies, Laboratoire de Génie Civil et géo-Environnement, SN3 59655 Villeneuve d'Ascq, France.
| | - Franck Vandenbulcke
- Université de Lille, Sciences et Technologies, Laboratoire de Génie Civil et géo-Environnement, SN3 59655 Villeneuve d'Ascq, France
| | - Adrianna Gałuszka
- Department of Evolutionary Immunology, Institute of Zoology, Jagiellonian University, Krakow, Poland
| | - Beata Klimek
- Institute of Environmental Sciences, Jagiellonian University, Krakow, Poland
| | - Barbara Plytycz
- Department of Evolutionary Immunology, Institute of Zoology, Jagiellonian University, Krakow, Poland
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Metabolic Responses of Eisenia Fetida to Individual Pb and Cd Contamination in Two Types of Soils. Sci Rep 2017; 7:13110. [PMID: 29026156 PMCID: PMC5638831 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-13503-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2017] [Accepted: 09/25/2017] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
To characterize the potential toxicity of low Pb- and Cd-contaminated arable soils, earthworms were exposed to Pb contaminated ferrosol, cambosol or Cd contaminated ferrosol for two weeks. Polar metabolites of earthworms were detected by nuclear magnetic resonance. Data were then analyzed with principal component analysis followed by orthogonal signal correction-partial least squares-discriminant analysis and univariate analysis to determine possible mechanisms for the changes in metabolites. The survival rates, metal concentrations and bioaccumulation factor (BAF) of the earthworms were also measured and calculated as auxiliary data. The results showed that the metabolite profiles were highly similar in Pb-contaminated ferrosol and cambosol (R2 = 0.76, p < 0.0001), which can be attributed to similar response mechanisms. However, there was a more intense response in ferrosol likely due to higher Pb concentrations in earthworms. Metabolic pathways and BAFs exhibited apparent distinctions between Pb- and Cd-contaminated ferrosol, likely because they bind to different bio-ligands. The affected metabolic pathways were involved in alanine-aspartate-glutamate, purine, glutathione, valine-leucine-isoleucine biosynthesis and degradation and nicotinate and nicotinamide metabolism. Regarding the bioavailability in earthworms, Pb availability was higher for ferrosol than for cambosol. We confirmed that the potential toxicity of low Pb/Cd-contaminated soils can be characterized using earthworm metabolomics.
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Usmani Z, Kumar V, Mritunjay SK. Vermicomposting of coal fly ash using epigeic and epi-endogeic earthworm species: nutrient dynamics and metal remediation. RSC Adv 2017. [DOI: 10.1039/c6ra27329g] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Study highlights the metal removal efficiency and nutrient dynamics of three potent earthworm species from coal fly ash with a comparative aspect.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zeba Usmani
- Laboratory of Applied Microbiology
- Department of Environmental Science and Engineering
- Center of Mining Environment
- Indian Institute of Technology (Indian School of Mines)
- Dhanbad
| | - Vipin Kumar
- Laboratory of Applied Microbiology
- Department of Environmental Science and Engineering
- Center of Mining Environment
- Indian Institute of Technology (Indian School of Mines)
- Dhanbad
| | - Sujeet Kumar Mritunjay
- Laboratory of Applied Microbiology
- Department of Environmental Science and Engineering
- Center of Mining Environment
- Indian Institute of Technology (Indian School of Mines)
- Dhanbad
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Mirmonsef H, Hornum HD, Jensen J, Holmstrup M. Effects of an aged copper contamination on distribution of earthworms, reproduction and cocoon hatchability. ECOTOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY 2017; 135:267-275. [PMID: 27750094 DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2016.10.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2016] [Revised: 10/05/2016] [Accepted: 10/07/2016] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
Contaminated soil is a problem throughout the industrialized world, and a significant proportion of these sites are polluted with heavy metals such as copper. Ecological risk assessment of contaminated sites requires ecotoxicological studies with spiked soils as well as in-situ ecological observations. Here, we report laboratory and field assessment of copper toxicity for earthworms at a Danish site (Hygum) exclusively contaminated with an increasing gradient in copper from background to highly toxic levels (>1000mgkg-1 dry soil). More specifically, we report effects on field populations, body contents of copper, hatching of earthworm cocoons and reproduction of the common species Aporrectodea tuberculata. Abundance of earthworms and cocoons decreased significantly from about 400-150m-2 along the gradient as the soil copper concentration increased from ca. 50 to ca. 1000mgkg-1. At lower concentrations, the population was dominated by endogeic species, whereas at high concentrations the population was dominated by epigeic species. At high copper contents the internal concentration of copper was in the range 100-160mgkg-1 dry tissue. Despite the high internal copper contents, hatchability of field collected cocoons was not impaired in any species. The EC50 reproduction value of A. tuberculata was about 220mg copper kg-1 dry soil in the first two exposure periods, but nearly doubled in the third period suggesting that an acclimation response had occurred. Also in the laboratory reproduction test, cocoon hatchability was not reduced, but rather slightly stimulated by copper. Based on these results we discuss the possibility that acute exposure in laboratory experiments is more detrimental than exposure in a field situation, perhaps because increased tolerance may be acquired through natural selection and genetic adaptation through increased use of defense mechanisms such as metallothioneins. Further, we discuss that the rather high tissue copper level of earthworms from the Hygum site may have smaller effects in these free-ranging worms than it would have in acute-exposure laboratory tests because the copper is more efficiently sequestered and detoxified in the field situation where populations have been exposed for many generations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hassan Mirmonsef
- Aarhus University, Department of Bioscience, Section for Soil Fauna Ecology and Ecotoxicology, Vejlsøvej 25, 8600 Silkeborg, Denmark
| | - Hanne D Hornum
- Aarhus University, Department of Bioscience, Section for Soil Fauna Ecology and Ecotoxicology, Vejlsøvej 25, 8600 Silkeborg, Denmark
| | - John Jensen
- Aarhus University, Department of Bioscience, Section for Soil Fauna Ecology and Ecotoxicology, Vejlsøvej 25, 8600 Silkeborg, Denmark
| | - Martin Holmstrup
- Aarhus University, Department of Bioscience, Section for Soil Fauna Ecology and Ecotoxicology, Vejlsøvej 25, 8600 Silkeborg, Denmark.
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Goswami L, Pratihar S, Dasgupta S, Bhattacharyya P, Mudoi P, Bora J, Bhattacharya SS, Kim KH. Exploring metal detoxification and accumulation potential during vermicomposting of Tea factory coal ash: sequential extraction and fluorescence probe analysis. Sci Rep 2016; 6:30402. [PMID: 27456167 PMCID: PMC4960643 DOI: 10.1038/srep30402] [Citation(s) in RCA: 60] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2015] [Accepted: 07/01/2016] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Metal contamination from coal ashes (CAs) is widely recognized as a significant environmental concern. To learn more about metal detoxification and accumulation potential of earthworm species, metal-rich tea factory coal ashes (TFCA) were fed to Eisenia fetida and Lampito mauritii by employing a fluorescent tag detection method. Fascinatingly, on feeding fluorescence probed Zn and Cd along with cow dung to Eisenia fetida, the detection of the gut-proteins with a molecular mass higher than 100 kDa was a distinct evidence of metal binding. Significant increases were observed in the content of humified organic C [humic acid (HAC) and fulvic acid C (FAC)] and degree of humification during vermicomposting. Concurrently, considerably large amount of toxic metals (Cr, Cd, Pb, and Zn) was transformed from exchangeable to recalcitrant (organic matter and mineral bound) fractions. Moreover, total metal concentrations were reduced with high removal efficiency upon vermicomposting.
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Affiliation(s)
- Linee Goswami
- Department of Environmental Science, Tezpur University, Assam 784028, India
| | - Sanjay Pratihar
- Department of Chemical Sciences, Tezpur University, Assam 784028, India
| | - Suman Dasgupta
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Tezpur University, Assam 784028, India
| | - Pradip Bhattacharyya
- Agricultural and Ecological Research Unit, Indian Statistical Institute, Giridih, Jharkhand 815301, India
| | - Pronab Mudoi
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Tezpur University, Assam 784028, India
| | - Jayanta Bora
- Department of Environmental Science, Tezpur University, Assam 784028, India
| | | | - Ki Hyun Kim
- Department of Civil &Environmental Engineering, Hanyang University, 222 Wangsimni-Ro, Seoul 133-791, Republic of Korea
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Gao C, Xu J, Li J, Liu Z. Determination of Metallothionein, Malondialdehyde, and Antioxidant Enzymes in Earthworms (Eisenia fetida) Following Exposure to Chromium. ANAL LETT 2016. [DOI: 10.1080/00032719.2015.1120738] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
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Earthworm Lumbricus rubellus MT-2: Metal Binding and Protein Folding of a True Cadmium-MT. Int J Mol Sci 2016; 17:ijms17010065. [PMID: 26742040 PMCID: PMC4730310 DOI: 10.3390/ijms17010065] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2015] [Revised: 12/18/2015] [Accepted: 12/24/2015] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Earthworms express, as most animals, metallothioneins (MTs)—small, cysteine-rich proteins that bind d10 metal ions (Zn(II), Cd(II), or Cu(I)) in clusters. Three MT homologues are known for Lumbricus rubellus, the common red earthworm, one of which, wMT-2, is strongly induced by exposure of worms to cadmium. This study concerns composition, metal binding affinity and metal-dependent protein folding of wMT-2 expressed recombinantly and purified in the presence of Cd(II) and Zn(II). Crucially, whilst a single Cd7wMT-2 species was isolated from wMT-2-expressing E. coli cultures supplemented with Cd(II), expressions in the presence of Zn(II) yielded mixtures. The average affinities of wMT-2 determined for either Cd(II) or Zn(II) are both within normal ranges for MTs; hence, differential behaviour cannot be explained on the basis of overall affinity. Therefore, the protein folding properties of Cd- and Zn-wMT-2 were compared by 1H NMR spectroscopy. This comparison revealed that the protein fold is better defined in the presence of cadmium than in the presence of zinc. These differences in folding and dynamics may be at the root of the differential behaviour of the cadmium- and zinc-bound protein in vitro, and may ultimately also help in distinguishing zinc and cadmium in the earthworm in vivo.
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21
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Fisker KV, Holmstrup M, Sørensen JG. Freezing of body fluids induces metallothionein gene expression in earthworms (Dendrobaena octaedra). Comp Biochem Physiol C Toxicol Pharmacol 2016; 179:44-8. [PMID: 26325206 DOI: 10.1016/j.cbpc.2015.08.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2015] [Revised: 08/14/2015] [Accepted: 08/23/2015] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
The molecular mechanisms activated by environmental contaminants and natural stressors such as freezing need to be investigated in order to better understand the mechanisms of interaction and potential effects that combined stressors may have on organisms. Using the freeze-tolerant earthworm Dendrobaena octaedra as model species, we exposed worms to freezing and exposure to sublethal copper in a factorial design and investigated the transcription of candidate genes for metal and cold stress. We hypothesised that both freezing and copper would induce transcription of genes coding for heat shock proteins (hsp10 and hsp70), metallothioneins (mt1 and mt2), and glutathione-S-transferase (gst), and that the combined effects of these two stressors would be additive. The gene transcripts hsp10, hsp70, and gst were significantly upregulated by freezing, but only hsp10 was upregulated by copper. We found that copper at the time of sampling had no effect on transcription of two metallothionein genes whereas transcription was strongly upregulated by freezing. Moreover, there was a significant interaction causing more than additive transcription rates of mt1 in the copper/freezing treatment suggesting that freeze-induced cellular dehydration increases the concentration of free copper ions in the cytosol. This metallothionein response to freezing is likely adaptive and possibly provides protection against freeze-induced elevated metal concentrations in the cytosol and excess ROS levels due to hypoxia during freezing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karina Vincents Fisker
- Section of Soil Fauna Ecology and Ecotoxicology, Department of Bioscience, Aarhus University, Vejlsøvej 25, DK-8600 Silkeborg, Denmark
| | - Martin Holmstrup
- Section of Soil Fauna Ecology and Ecotoxicology, Department of Bioscience, Aarhus University, Vejlsøvej 25, DK-8600 Silkeborg, Denmark.
| | - Jesper Givskov Sørensen
- Section of Genetics, Ecology and Evolution, Department of Bioscience, Aarhus University, Ny Munkegade 116, DK-8000 Aarhus C, Denmark
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22
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Lionetto MG, Caricato R, Calisi A, Giordano ME, Erroi E, Schettino T. Biomonitoring of water and soil quality: a case study of ecotoxicological methodology application to the assessment of reclaimed agroindustrial wastewaters used for irrigation. RENDICONTI LINCEI-SCIENZE FISICHE E NATURALI 2015. [DOI: 10.1007/s12210-015-0486-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
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23
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Homa J, Rorat A, Kruk J, Cocquerelle C, Plytycz B, Vandenbulcke F. Dermal exposure of Eisenia andrei earthworms: Effects of heavy metals on metallothionein and phytochelatin synthase gene expressions in coelomocytes. ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY AND CHEMISTRY 2015; 34:1397-1404. [PMID: 25693738 DOI: 10.1002/etc.2944] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2014] [Revised: 09/01/2014] [Accepted: 02/14/2015] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
Parameters such as total number of coelomocytes, riboflavin content in coelomocytes, expression of genes implied in metal homeostasis, and detoxification mechanisms can be used as biomarkers to assess the impact of metals on annelids. Defense biomarkers (detoxification gene expressions and coelomocyte parameters) were investigated in the ecotoxicologically important species Eisenia andrei following in vivo exposure to 5 different metals (zinc, copper, nickel, lead, and cadmium) at known concentrations. Coelomocyte numbers and riboflavin content were not affected by metallic exposure, but metal-specific gene expression variations were evidenced.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joanna Homa
- Department of Evolutionary Immunology, Institute of Zoology, Jagiellonian University, Kraków, Poland
| | - Agnieszka Rorat
- Institute of Environmental Engineering, Czestochowa University of Technology, Czestochowa, Poland
- Environmental Axis, Lille 1 University, Villeneuve d'Ascq, France
| | - Jerzy Kruk
- Faculty of Biochemistry, Biophysics, and Biotechnology, Jagiellonian University, Kraków, Poland
| | | | - Barbara Plytycz
- Department of Evolutionary Immunology, Institute of Zoology, Jagiellonian University, Kraków, Poland
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Irizar A, Rodríguez MP, Izquierdo A, Cancio I, Marigómez I, Soto M. Effects of soil organic matter content on cadmium toxicity in Eisenia fetida: implications for the use of biomarkers and standard toxicity tests. ARCHIVES OF ENVIRONMENTAL CONTAMINATION AND TOXICOLOGY 2015; 68:181-192. [PMID: 25015731 DOI: 10.1007/s00244-014-0060-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2014] [Accepted: 06/02/2014] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
Bioavailability is affected by soil physicochemical characteristics such as pH and organic matter (OM) content. In addition, OM constitutes the energy source of Eisenia fetida, a well established model species for soil toxicity assessment. The present work aimed at assessing the effects of changes in OM content on the toxicity of Cd in E. fetida through the measurement of neutral red uptake (NRU) and mortality, growth, and reproduction (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development [OECD] Nos. 207 and 222). Complementarily, metallothionein (MT) and catalase transcription levels were measured. To decrease variability inherent to natural soils, artificial soils (Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development 1984) with different OM content (6, 10, and 14%) and spiked with Cd solutions at increasing concentrations were used. Low OM in soil decreased soil ingestion and Cd bioaccumulation but also increased Cd toxicity causing lower NRU of coelomocytes, 100 % mortality, and stronger reproduction impairment, probably due to the lack of energy to maintain protection mechanisms (production of MT).Cd bioaccumulation did not reflect toxicity, and OM played a pivotal role in Cd toxicity. Thus, OM content should be taken into account when using E. fetida in in vivo exposures for soil health assessment.
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25
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Mustonen M, Haimi J, Väisänen A, Knott KE. Metallothionein gene expression differs in earthworm populations with different exposure history. ECOTOXICOLOGY (LONDON, ENGLAND) 2014; 23:1732-1743. [PMID: 25179588 DOI: 10.1007/s10646-014-1338-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 08/18/2014] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
Metals are persistent pollutants in soils that can harm soil organisms and decrease species diversity. Animals can cope with metal contamination with the help of metallothioneins, small metal-binding proteins involved in homeostasis and detoxification of metals. We studied the expression of metallothionein with qPCR in a small, epigeic earthworm, Dendrobaena octaedra. We compared expression patterns and metal body content in earthworms collected from two sites with different metal contamination histories: Harjavalta, contaminated by a Cu-Ni smelter operational for over 50 years, and Jyväskylä, an uncontaminated site. Earthworms from both sites were also experimentally exposed to different concentrations of Cu (control, 50, 100 or 200 mg/kg) or Zn (control, 75, 150 or 300 mg/kg) for 7, 14 or 28 days to determine if there is a time related dose-response in gene expression. Population comparison showed that metallothionein expression was higher in earthworms from the contaminated site. In the exposure experiment, exposure time affected expression, but only in the earthworms from the uncontaminated site, suggesting that there is a delay in the metallothionein response of earthworms in this population. In contrast, earthworms from the contaminated site showed higher and constant levels of metallothionein expression at all exposure concentrations and durations. The constant metallothionein expression in earthworms from the contaminated site suggests that inducibility of metallothionein response could be lost in earthworms with metal exposure history. Adaptation of D. octaedra to metal exposure could explain the differences between the populations and explain the persistence of this species in contaminated forest soils.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Mustonen
- Department of Biological and Environmental Science, University of Jyvaskyla, P.O. Box 35, FI-40014, Jyvaskyla, Finland,
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Metallothionein induction in the coelomic fluid of the earthworm Lumbricus terrestris following heavy metal exposure: a short report. BIOMED RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2014; 2014:109386. [PMID: 24804193 PMCID: PMC3996935 DOI: 10.1155/2014/109386] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2013] [Accepted: 02/25/2014] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Earthworms are useful bioindicator organisms for soil biomonitoring. Recently the use of pollution biomarkers in earthworms has been increasingly investigated for soil monitoring and assessment. Earthworm coelomic fluid is particularly interesting from a toxicological perspective, because it is responsible for pollutant disposition and tissue distribution to the whole organism. The aim of the present work was to study the effect of heavy metal exposure on metallothionein (Mt) induction in the coelomic fluid of Lumbricus terrestris in view of future use as sensitive biomarker suitable for application to metal polluted soil monitoring and assessment. L. terrestris coelomic fluid showed a detectable Mt concentration of about 4.0 ± 0.6 μg/mL (mean ± SEM, n = 10) in basal physiological condition. When the animals were exposed to CuSO4 or CdCl2 or to a mixture of the two metals in OECD soils for 72 h, the Mt specific concentration significantly (P < 0.001) increased. The Mt response in the coelomic fluid perfectly reflected the commonly used Mt response in the whole organism when the two responses were compared on the same specimens. These findings indicate the suitability of Mt determination in L. terrestris coelomic fluid as a sensitive biomarker for application to metal polluted soil monitoring and assessment.
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27
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Sutherland DEK, Stillman MJ. Challenging conventional wisdom: single domain metallothioneins. Metallomics 2014; 6:702-28. [DOI: 10.1039/c3mt00216k] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
Metallation studies of human metallothioneins support the role of single metal-binding-domains as commonplace with the typical two-domain-cluster structure as exceptional.
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Fisker KV, Holmstrup M, Sørensen JG. Variation in metallothionein gene expression is associated with adaptation to copper in the earthworm Dendrobaena octaedra. Comp Biochem Physiol C Toxicol Pharmacol 2013; 157:220-6. [PMID: 23237849 DOI: 10.1016/j.cbpc.2012.11.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2012] [Revised: 11/23/2012] [Accepted: 11/24/2012] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
Abstract
Evolution of resistance to heavy metals has been reported for several populations of soil living organisms occurring at metal contaminated sites. Such genetically based and heritable resistance contribute to the persistence of populations in contaminated areas. Here we report on molecular responses to experimental copper in populations of the earthworm, Dendrobaena octaedra, originating from copper contaminated soil near Gusum (Sweden) where heavy metal pollution has been present for several decades. We studied gene expression of six genes potentially involved in resistance to copper toxicity using F2-generations of D. octaedra populations, originating from reference sites and contaminated (High, Medium and Low) sites around Gusum. The main result was different expression patterns of genes encoding for two different isoforms (mt1 and mt2) of metallothionein proteins during experimental exposure to copper contaminated soil. Expression of mt1 showed a fast and significant upregulation in the High population and a slower, albeit significant, upregulation in Medium and Low populations. However, in the three reference populations no upregulation were seen. In comparison, a fast upregulation was also seen for the High population in the isoform mt2, whereas, gene expression of all other populations, including reference populations, showed slower upregulation in response to experimental copper. The results indicate that copper resistance in D. octaedra from contaminated areas is related to an increased expression of metallothioneins.
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29
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Calisi A, Zaccarelli N, Lionetto MG, Schettino T. Integrated biomarker analysis in the earthworm Lumbricus terrestris: application to the monitoring of soil heavy metal pollution. CHEMOSPHERE 2013; 90:2637-2644. [PMID: 23266410 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2012.11.040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2012] [Revised: 09/17/2012] [Accepted: 11/24/2012] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
As recently recognized exposure and effect assessment of soil contaminants on soil biota is necessary for decision-making related to ecosystem services and habitat protection, establishment of remediation procedures, or pollution monitoring programs. Therefore, biological approaches to soil monitoring, such as the measurement of biomarkers in soil bioindicator organisms, have recently received increasing attention. The aim of the present work was to assess the performance of a suite of cellular and biochemical biomarkers in native earthworms (Lumbricus terrestris) sampled in heavy metal contaminated sites in view of the validation of this biomarker approach in soil monitoring and assessment. Besides well known and standardized biomarkers such as lysosomal membrane stability, metallothionein tissue concentration and acetylcholinesterase activity, novel potential biomarkers such as changes in blood hemoglobin concentration and granulocyte morphometric alterations were analyzed. Both univariate and multivariate (PCA) statistical analysis applied to the data set revealed that the integrated multi-marker approach in native L. terrestris under field conditions produces a sensitive and cost-effective assessment of heavy metal soil pollution, which could be incorporated as a descriptor of environmental status in future soil biomonitoring programmes.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Calisi
- Dip.to di Scienze e Tecnologie Biologiche e Ambientali (DiSTeBA), Università del Salento, Via provinciale Lecce-Monteroni, I-73100 Lecce, Italy
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Tsyusko OV, Hardas SS, Shoults-Wilson WA, Starnes CP, Joice G, Butterfield DA, Unrine JM. Short-term molecular-level effects of silver nanoparticle exposure on the earthworm, Eisenia fetida. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2012; 171:249-255. [PMID: 22960366 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2012.08.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2012] [Revised: 08/03/2012] [Accepted: 08/07/2012] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
Short-term changes in levels of expression of nine stress response genes and oxidative damage of proteins were examined in Eisenia fetida exposed to polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) coated Ag nanoparticles (Ag-NP) and AgNO(3) in natural soils. The responses varied significantly among days with the highest number of significant changes occurring on day three. Similarity in gene expression patterns between Ag-NPs and AgNO(3) and significant relationships of expression of CAT and HSP70 with Ag soil concentration suggest similarity in toxicity mechanisms of Ag ions and NPs. Significant increases in the levels of protein carbonyls on day three of the exposure to both ions and Ag-NPs indicate that both treatments induced oxidative stress. Our results suggest that Ag ions drive short term toxicity of Ag-NPs in E. fetida. However, given that <15% of Ag in the NPs was oxidized in these soils, dissolution of Ag-NPs is likely to occur after or during their uptake.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olga V Tsyusko
- Department of Plant and Soil Sciences, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40546, USA.
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Molnár L, Engelmann P, Somogyi I, Mácsik LL, Pollák E. Cold-stress induced formation of calcium and phosphorous rich chloragocyte granules (chloragosomes) in the earthworm Eisenia fetida. Comp Biochem Physiol A Mol Integr Physiol 2012; 163:199-209. [PMID: 22710253 DOI: 10.1016/j.cbpa.2012.06.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2012] [Revised: 06/06/2012] [Accepted: 06/07/2012] [Indexed: 10/28/2022]
Abstract
The cytochemical and functional characteristics of chloragocytes of both 'control' and cold-stressed Eisenia fetida were examined. Flow cytometry revealed the heterogeneity of chloragocytes: the first group was characterized by low, the second one by high acid phosphatase (AcP) content. In 'control' animals the former, in cold-stressed ones the latter type were the dominant form. The elevated AcP-activity correlated with the accumulation of autophagic vacuoles (AVs) in chloragocytes. Both AVs and all small chloragosomes showed high AcP activity, while most of the large chloragosomes did not display any. Most 'control' granules (0.75-1.25 μm) contained high amounts of Ca and P, with less and variable quantities of S, Cl, K, Fe and Zn. Small chloragosomes with low Ca and P concentrations were seldom found. In cold-stressed animals the number of small granules (0.25-0.75 μm) increased up to 40% of total population. Their Ca and P contents were significantly lower; S and Fe concentrations were higher than those of large chloragosomes (1.0-1.5 μm). Our results prove that the formation and elemental composition of chloragosomes can be influenced by environmental stressors and suggest that the mature chloragosomes are tertiary lysosomes and their formation is coupled to autophagocytosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- László Molnár
- Department of General Zoology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Pécs, 7624 Pécs, Ifjúság u. 6, Hungary.
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Hirano T, Tamae K. Earthworms and soil pollutants. SENSORS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2011; 11:11157-67. [PMID: 22247659 PMCID: PMC3251976 DOI: 10.3390/s111211157] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2011] [Revised: 11/01/2011] [Accepted: 11/18/2011] [Indexed: 12/06/2022]
Abstract
Although the toxicity of metal contaminated soils has been assessed with various bioassays, more information is needed about the biochemical responses, which may help to elucidate the mechanisms involved in metal toxicity. We previously reported that the earthworm, Eisenia fetida, accumulates cadmium in its seminal vesicles. The bio-accumulative ability of earthworms is well known, and thus the earthworm could be a useful living organism for the bio-monitoring of soil pollution. In this short review, we describe recent studies concerning the relationship between earthworms and soil pollutants, and discuss the possibility of using the earthworm as a bio-monitoring organism for soil pollution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Takeshi Hirano
- Department of Life and Environment Engineering, Faculty of Environmental Engineering, University of Kitakyushu, Kitakyushu, Fukuoka, 808-0135, Japan
| | - Kazuyoshi Tamae
- Division of Teacher Training, Faculty of Education and Culture, University of Miyazaki, Miyazaki, 889-2192, Japan; E-Mail:
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Lourenço J, Silva A, Carvalho F, Oliveira J, Malta M, Mendo S, Gonçalves F, Pereira R. Histopathological changes in the earthworm Eisenia andrei associated with the exposure to metals and radionuclides. CHEMOSPHERE 2011; 85:1630-1634. [PMID: 21911243 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2011.08.027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2011] [Revised: 08/05/2011] [Accepted: 08/08/2011] [Indexed: 05/31/2023]
Abstract
Earthworms were exposed for 56 d to a contaminated soil, from an abandoned uranium mine, and to the natural reference soil LUFA 2.2. Histological changes in earthworm's body wall (epidermis, circular and longitudinal muscles) and gastrointestinal tract (chloragogenous tissue and intestinal epithelium) were assessed, after 0, 14 and 56 d of exposure. Results have shown alterations in all the studied tissues after 14 d of exposure (except for the intestinal epithelium), yet more severe effects were registered after 56 d of exposure. Herein we report histopathological alterations as a good biomarker for the evaluation of soil quality. We also demonstrate that morphological changes in the body wall and gastrointestinal tract, are important endpoints that could be added to earthworm's standardized tests, for the evaluation of soil toxicity, as part of the risk assessment of contaminated areas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joana Lourenço
- Department of Biology & CESAM, University of Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal.
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Calisi A, Lionetto MG, Schettino T. Biomarker response in the earthworm Lumbricus terrestris exposed to chemical pollutants. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2011; 409:4456-4464. [PMID: 21783228 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2011.06.058] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2011] [Revised: 06/22/2011] [Accepted: 06/26/2011] [Indexed: 05/31/2023]
Abstract
Earthworms are important organisms for the soil ecosystem. They are sensitive to toxic chemicals and represent useful bioindicator organisms for soil biomonitoring. Recently the use of biomarkers in earthworms has been increasingly investigated for soil monitoring and assessment purpose. The aim of the preset paper was to analyze the pollutant-induced response of a suite of cellular and biochemical biomarkers in the earthworm Lumbricus terrestris exposed to copper sulphate or methiocarb in OECD soil at the maximal concentrations recommended in agriculture. These responses were compared to lifecycle parameters such as survival, growth and reproduction. Granulocyte morphometric alteration, lysosomal membrane stability, metallothionein concentration, and acetylcholinesterase activity were considered. In either copper sulphate or methiocarb exposure conditions the mean percentage variation of the pollutant-induced molecular and cellular biomarkers was consistent with the whole organism end-point responses. In particular pollutant-induced granulocyte enlargement, detected in either copper sulphate or methiocarb exposed organisms, showed to be a potential general biomarker that may be directly linked to organism health. Compared to the other biological responses to pollutants, it showed high sensitivity to pollutant exposure suggesting its possible applications as a sensitive, simple, and quick general biomarker for monitoring and assessment applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Calisi
- Dip.to di Scienze e Tecnologie Biologiche e Ambientali (DiSTeBA), Università del Salento, Via provinciale Lecce-Monteroni, I-73100, Italy
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Abstract
Metallothioneins (MT) are a family of small cysteine rich proteins, which since their discovery in 1957, have been implicated in a range of roles including toxic metal detoxification, protection against oxidative stress, and as a metallochaperone involved in the homeostasis of both zinc and copper. The most well studied member of the family is the mammalian metallothionein, which consists of two domains: a β-domain with 9 cysteine residues, which sequesters 3 Cd(2+) or Zn(2+) or 6 Cu(+) ions, and an α-domain with 11 cysteine residues and, which sequesters 4 Cd(2+) or Zn(2+) or 6 Cu(+) ions. Despite over half a century of research, the exact functions of MT are still unknown. Much of current research aims to elucidate the mechanism of metal binding, as well as to isolate intermediates in metal exchange reactions; reactions necessary to maintain homeostatic equilibrium. These studies further our understanding of the role(s) of this remarkable and ubiquitous protein. Recently, supermetallated forms of the protein, where supermetallation describes metallation in excess of traditional levels, have been reported. These species may potentially be the metal exchange intermediates necessary to maintain homeostatic equilibrium. This review focuses on recent advances in the understanding of the mechanistic properties of metal binding, the implications for the metal induced protein folding reactions proposed for metallothionein metallation, the value of "magic numbers", which we informally define as the commonly determined metal-to-protein stoichiometric ratios and the significance of the new supermetallated states of the protein and the possible interpretation of the structural properties of this new metallation status. Together we provide a commentary on current experimental and theoretical advances and frame our consideration in terms of the possible functions of MT.
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Sizmur T, Tilston EL, Charnock J, Palumbo-Roe B, Watts MJ, Hodson ME. Impacts of epigeic, anecic and endogeic earthworms on metal and metalloid mobility and availability. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2011; 13:266-73. [DOI: 10.1039/c0em00519c] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
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Homa J, Klimek M, Kruk J, Cocquerelle C, Vandenbulcke F, Plytycz B. Metal-specific effects on metallothionein gene induction and riboflavin content in coelomocytes of Allolobophora chlorotica. ECOTOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY 2010; 73:1937-1943. [PMID: 20696476 DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2010.07.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2010] [Revised: 06/24/2010] [Accepted: 07/03/2010] [Indexed: 05/29/2023]
Abstract
Metal pollution affects earthworm coelomocytes, including their differential counts, riboflavin content and metallothioneins (MT) involved in metal homoeostasis and detoxification. The present work shows effects of Ni, Cu, Zn, Cd, and Pb at the same molarity (1mM) on coelomocytes of Allolobophora chlorotica after 2-day worm dermal exposure to metal chlorides. Numbers of coelomocytes/eleocytes extruded by electric shock and amounts of riboflavin in coelomocyte lysates were significantly decreased in Cu-exposed worms, less diminished in response to Ni, Zn, Cd, and unaffected by Pb. In sharp contrast, real-time PCR revealed a very strong (272 fold) MT-mRNA induction in response to Cd only. The induction was very low in response to Zn, Cu, Pb, and Ni ions (2.6, 2.1, 1.4, and 1.3-fold, respectively). In conclusion, decreased cell counts and riboflavin content are molecular biomarkers of Cu exposure while induction of MT-mRNA is a molecular biomarker of worm Cd exposure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joanna Homa
- Department of Evolutionary Immunobiology, Institute of Zoology, Jagiellonian University, R. Ingardena 6, 30-060 Krakow, Poland
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Brulle F, Morgan AJ, Cocquerelle C, Vandenbulcke F. Transcriptomic underpinning of toxicant-mediated physiological function alterations in three terrestrial invertebrate taxa: a review. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2010; 158:2793-2808. [PMID: 20619942 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2010.06.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2010] [Revised: 06/09/2010] [Accepted: 06/12/2010] [Indexed: 05/29/2023]
Abstract
Diverse anthropogenic activities often lead to the accumulation of inorganic and organic residues in topsoils. Biota living in close contact with contaminated soils may experience stress at different levels of biological organisation throughout the continuum from the molecular-genetic to ecological and community levels. To date, the relationship between changes at the molecular (mRNA expression) and biochemical/physiological levels evoked by exposures to chemical compounds has been partially established in a limited number of terrestrial invertebrate species. Recently, the advent of a family of transcriptomic tools (e.g. Real-time PCR, Subtractive Suppressive Hybridization, Expressed Sequence Tag sequencing, pyro-sequencing technologies, Microarray chips), together with supporting informatic and statistical procedures, have permitted the robust analyses of global gene expression changes within an ecotoxicological context. This review focuses on how transcriptomics is enlightening our understanding of the molecular-genetic responses of three contrasting terrestrial macroinvertebrate taxa (nematodes, earthworms, and springtails) to inorganics, organics, and agrochemicals.
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Ngu TT, Lee JA, Rushton MK, Stillman MJ. Arsenic metalation of seaweed Fucus vesiculosus metallothionein: the importance of the interdomain linker in metallothionein. Biochemistry 2009; 48:8806-16. [PMID: 19655782 DOI: 10.1021/bi9007462] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
The presence of metallothionein in seaweed Fucus vesiculosus has been suggested as the protecting agent against toxic metals in the contaminated waters it can grow in. We report the first kinetic pathway data for A3+ binding to an algal metallothionein, F. vesiculosus metallothionein (rfMT). The time and temperature dependence of the relative concentrations of apo-rfMT and the five As-containing species have been determined following mixing of As3+ and apo-rfMT using electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI MS). Kinetic analysis of the detailed time-resolved mass spectral data for As3+ metalation allows the simulation of the metalation reactions showing the consumption of apo-rfMT, the formation and consumption of As1- to As4-rfMT, and subsequent, final formation of As5-rfMT. The kinetic model proposed here provides a stepwise analysis of the metalation reaction showing time-resolved occupancy of the Cys7 and the Cys9 domain. The rate constants (M(-1) s(-1)) calculated from the fits for the 7-cysteine gamma domain are k1gamma, 19.8, and k2gamma, 1.4, and for the 9-cysteine beta domain are k1beta, 16.3, k2beta, 9.1, and k3beta, 2.2. The activation energies and Arrhenius factors for each of the reaction steps are also reported. rfMT has a long 14 residue linker, which as we show from analysis of the ESI MS data, allows each of its two domains to bind As3+ independently of each other. The analysis provides for the first time an explanation of the differing metal-binding properties of two-domain MTs with linkers of varying lengths, suggesting further comparison between plant (with long linkers) and mammalian (with short linkers) metallothioneins will shed light on the role of the interdomain linker.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thanh T Ngu
- Department of Chemistry, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada N6A 5B7
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Sizmur T, Hodson ME. Do earthworms impact metal mobility and availability in soil?--a review. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2009; 157:1981-1989. [PMID: 19321245 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2009.02.029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 117] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2008] [Revised: 12/18/2008] [Accepted: 02/19/2009] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
The importance of earthworms to ecosystem functioning has led to many studies on the impacts of metals on earthworms. Far less attention has been paid to the impact that earthworms have on soil metals both in terms of metal mobility and availability. In this review we consider which earthworms have been used in such studies, which soil components have been investigated, which types of soil have been used and what measures of mobility and availability applied. We proceed to review proposed reasons for effects: changes in microbial populations, pH, dissolved organic carbon and metal speciation. The balance of evidence suggests that earthworms increase metal mobility and availability but more studies are required to determine the precise mechanism for this.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tom Sizmur
- Department of Soil Science, University of Reading, Whiteknights, Reading RG6 6DW, UK.
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Jones RP, Bednar AJ, Inouye LS. Subcellular compartmentalization of lead in the earthworm, Eisenia fetida: Relationship to survival and reproduction. ECOTOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY 2009; 72:1045-1052. [PMID: 19193437 DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2008.12.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2008] [Revised: 11/24/2008] [Accepted: 12/15/2008] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
Metals are detoxified and sequestered into subcellular compartments when accumulated by earthworms. Differential centrifugation was used to quantify subcellular Pb in three separate studies to measure 14-day acute toxicity (lethality), 28/56-day reproductive effects, and 90-day bioaccumulation in spiked-soil exposed earthworms, Eisenia fetida. Observed toxicity and total body Pb was consistent with published work of others. Pb showed concentration-dependent toxicity relationships (lethality and reproduction) for total and subcellular Pb. Toxic fraction and total Pb showed similar concentration-response patterns in the 14-day and 28/56-day studies and tended to increase towards a plateau at higher concentrations. Linear correlations of subcellular to total Pb was observed in all studies except the 90-day bioaccumulation study in which toxic fraction Pb appeared to approach a maximum over the period between Day 56 and Day 90. In a follow-on study using two different contaminated soil types, toxic fraction and total Pb concentrations as related to reproductive effects were consistent with data from our spiked soil studies, and this suggests it may be possible to use such values to "factor out" matrix-specific influences that otherwise skew toxicity values when expressed relative to soil concentrations. Our findings, however, suggest the subcellular fractionation approach may not offer advantages over total Pb determination in short-term exposure studies but may become important when longer exposure periods (greater than 90 days) are considered. In this respect, the technique we describe has the potential to provide valuable information for assessing and interpreting Pb toxicity as a function of earthworm body burden.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert P Jones
- Environmental Risk Assessment Branch, US Army Engineer Research and Development Center, 3909 Halls Ferry Road, Vicksburg, MS 39180, USA.
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Nakashima T, Okada T, Asahi J, Yamashita A, Kawai K, Kasai H, Matsuno K, Gamou S, Hirano T. 8-Hydroxydeoxyguanosine generated in the earthworm Eisenia fetida grown in metal-containing soil. MUTATION RESEARCH-GENETIC TOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL MUTAGENESIS 2008; 654:138-44. [DOI: 10.1016/j.mrgentox.2008.05.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2007] [Revised: 05/12/2008] [Accepted: 05/24/2008] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
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Owen J, Hedley BA, Svendsen C, Wren J, Jonker MJ, Hankard PK, Lister LJ, Stürzenbaum SR, Morgan AJ, Spurgeon DJ, Blaxter ML, Kille P. Transcriptome profiling of developmental and xenobiotic responses in a keystone soil animal, the oligochaete annelid Lumbricus rubellus. BMC Genomics 2008; 9:266. [PMID: 18522720 PMCID: PMC2440553 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2164-9-266] [Citation(s) in RCA: 90] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2007] [Accepted: 06/03/2008] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Natural contamination and anthropogenic pollution of soils are likely to be major determinants of functioning and survival of keystone invertebrate taxa. Soil animals will have both evolutionary adaptation and genetically programmed responses to these toxic chemicals, but mechanistic understanding of such is sparse. The clitellate annelid Lumbricus rubellus is a model organism for soil health testing, but genetic data have been lacking. Results We generated a 17,000 sequence expressed sequence tag dataset, defining ~8,100 different putative genes, and built an 8,000-element transcriptome microarray for L. rubellus. Strikingly, less than half the putative genes (43%) were assigned annotations from the gene ontology (GO) system; this reflects the phylogenetic uniqueness of earthworms compared to the well-annotated model animals. The microarray was used to identify adult- and juvenile-specific transcript profiles in untreated animals and to determine dose-response transcription profiles following exposure to three xenobiotics from different chemical classes: inorganic (the metal cadmium), organic (the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon fluoranthene), and agrochemical (the herbicide atrazine). Analysis of these profiles revealed compound-specific fingerprints which identify the molecular responses of this annelid to each contaminant. The data and analyses are available in an integrated database, LumbriBASE. Conclusion L. rubellus has a complex response to contaminant exposure, but this can be efficiently analysed using molecular methods, revealing unique response profiles for different classes of effector. These profiles may assist in the development of novel monitoring or bioremediation protocols, as well as in understanding the ecosystem effects of exposure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer Owen
- Institute of Evolutionary Biology, University of Edinburgh, King's Buildings, Edinburgh, EH9 3JT, UK.
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Sutherland DEK, Stillman MJ. Noncooperative cadmium(II) binding to human metallothionein 1a. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2008; 372:840-4. [PMID: 18533113 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2008.05.142] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2008] [Accepted: 05/23/2008] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
The two-domain (beta alpha) mammalian metallothionein binds seven divalent metals, however, the binding mechanism is not well characterized and recent reports require the presence of the partially metallated protein. In this paper, step-wise metallation of the metal-free, two-domain beta alpha-rhMT and the isolated beta-rhMT using Cd(II) is shown to proceed in a noncooperative manner by analysis of electrospray ionization mass spectrometric data. Under limiting amounts of Cd(II), all intermediate metallation states up to the fully metallated Cd(3)-beta-rhMT and Cd(7)-beta alpha-rhMT were observed. Addition of excess Cd(II), resulted in formation of the supermetallated (metallation in excess of normal levels) Cd(4)-beta- and Cd(8)-beta alpha-metallothionein species. These data establish that noncooperative cadmium metallation is a property of each isolated domain and the complete two-domain protein. Our data now also establish that supermetallation is a property that may provide information about the mechanism of metal transfer to other proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Duncan E K Sutherland
- Department of Chemistry, The University of Western Ontario, London, Ont., Canada N6A 5B7
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Influence of Cadmium(II) Ions and Brewery Sludge on Metallothionein Level in Earthworms (Eisenia fetida) - Bio- transforming of Toxic Wastes. SENSORS 2008; 8:1039-1047. [PMID: 27879751 PMCID: PMC3927502 DOI: 10.3390/s8021039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2008] [Accepted: 02/14/2008] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Metallothioneins belong to a group of intracellular, high molecular and cysteine-rich proteins whose content in an organism increase with increasing concentration of a heavy metal. The aim of this work was to apply the electrochemical analysis for the analysis of metallothioneins in earthworms exposed to cadmium ions and brewery sludge. Here we utilized adsorptive transfer technique coupled with differential pulse voltammetry Brdicka reaction to determine metallothionein in different biological samples. By means this very sensitive technique it was possible to analyze metallothionein in concentrations below 1 μmol.l−1 with the standard deviation of 4-5%. We found out that the average MT level in the non-treated earthworms oscillated between 19 and 48 μmol.l−1. When we analysed samples of earthworms treated by cadmium, we observed that the MT content increased with the exposition length and increase dose of cadmium ions. Finally, we attempted to study and compare the toxicity of the raw sludge and its leach by using of earthworms. The raw brewery sludge caused the death of the earthworms quickly. Earthworms held in the presence of leach from brewery sludge increased their weight of 147 % of their original weight because they ingested the nutrients from the sludge. The metallothionein level changes markedly with increasing time of exposition and applied dose of toxic compound. It clearly follows from the obtained results that the MT synthesis is insufficient in the first hours of the exposition and increases after more than 24 h.
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Abstract
The number of reported cases of chronic arsenic poisoning is on the rise throughout the world, making the study of the long-term effects of arsenic critical. As(3+) binds readily to biological thiols, including mammalian metallothionein (MT), which is an ubiquitous sulfur-rich metalloprotein known to coordinate a wide range of metals. The two-domain mammalian protein binds divalent metals (M) into two metal-thiolate clusters with stoichiometries of M(3)S(cys9) (beta) and M(4)S(cys11) (alpha). We report that As(3+) binds with stoichiometries of As(3)S(cys9) (beta) and As(3)S(cys11) (alpha) to the recombinant human metallothionein (rhMT) isoform 1a protein. Further, we report the complete kinetic analysis of the saturation reactions of the separate alpha and beta domains of rhMT with As(3+). Speciation in the metalation reactions was determined using time- and temperature-resolved electrospray ionization mass spectrometry. The binding reaction of As(3+) to the alpha and beta MT domains is shown to be noncooperative and involves three sequential, bimolecular metalation steps. The analyses allow for the first time the complete simulation of the experimental data for the stepwise metalation reaction of MT showing the relative concentrations of the metal-free, apo MT and each of the As-MT intermediate species as a function of time and temperature. At room temperature (298 K) and pH 3.5, the individual rate constants for the first, second, and third As(3+) binding to apo-alphaMT are 5.5, 6.3, and 3.9 M(-)(1) s(-)(1) and for apo-betaMT the constants are 3.6, 2.0, and 0.6 M(-)(1) s(-)(1). The activation energy for formation of As(1)-H(6)-betaMT is 32 kJ mol(-)(1), for As(2)-H(3)-betaMT it is 35 kJ mol(-)(1), for As(3)-betaMT it is 29 kJ mol(-)(1), for As(1)-H(8)-alphaMT it is 33 kJ mol(-)(1), for As(2)-H(5)-alphaMT it is 29 kJ mol(-)(1), and for As(3)-H(2)-alphaMT it is 23 kJ mol(-)(1).
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Affiliation(s)
- Thanh T Ngu
- Department of Chemistry, The University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada N6A 5B7
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47
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Gastaldi L, Ranzato E, Caprì F, Hankard P, Pérès G, Canesi L, Viarengo A, Pons G. Application of a biomarker battery for the evaluation of the sublethal effects of pollutants in the earthworm Eisenia andrei. Comp Biochem Physiol C Toxicol Pharmacol 2007; 146:398-405. [PMID: 17567537 DOI: 10.1016/j.cbpc.2007.04.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2007] [Revised: 04/27/2007] [Accepted: 04/30/2007] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
We applied a battery of biomarkers in the earthworm Eisenia andrei to assess the pollutant-induced stress syndrome. Earthworms were exposed to sublethal concentrations of copper (1-10 microM) and benzo[a]pyrene (0.01-10 microM) as models of inorganic and organic pollutants for 1, 3 and 7 days. Four potential biomarkers of stress were measured: lysosomal membrane stability of coelomocytes, lysosomal accumulation of lipofuscin in chloragogenous tissue and of neutral lipids in coelomatic cells, plasma membrane Ca2+-ATPase activity in the intestinal epithelium; metallothionein content was also evaluated as a biomarker of exposure. Significant changes were observed in the parameters measured in earthworms exposed to both contaminants. Certain biomarkers, such as lysosomal membrane stability and Ca2+-ATPase activity, that showed a decreasing trend with increasing pollutant concentration and time of exposure, proved to be particularly suitable to describe the evolution of a stress syndrome from its early phase to the development of pathological conditions. On the other hand, contaminant-induced changes in lysosomal lipofuscin and neutral lipid accumulation showed a bell-shaped trend, indicating that these biomarkers are able to follow the development of pollutant-induced stress syndrome as far as an equilibrium in the cell functions is maintained; therefore, they are particularly useful to describe mild stress conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Gastaldi
- Dipartimento di Scienze dell'Ambiente e della Vita, DiSAV, Università del Piemonte Orientale Amedeo Avogadro, 15100 Alessandria, Italy
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48
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Janssens TKS, Mariën J, Cenijn P, Legler J, van Straalen NM, Roelofs D. Recombinational micro-evolution of functionally different metallothionein promoter alleles from Orchesella cincta. BMC Evol Biol 2007; 7:88. [PMID: 17562010 PMCID: PMC1913499 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2148-7-88] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2007] [Accepted: 06/11/2007] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Metallothionein (mt) transcription is elevated in heavy metal tolerant field populations of Orchesella cincta (Collembola). This suggests that natural selection acts on transcriptional regulation of mt in springtails at sites where cadmium (Cd) levels in soil reach toxic values This study investigates the nature and the evolutionary origin of polymorphisms in the metallothionein promoter (pmt) and their functional significance for mt expression. Results We sequenced approximately 1600 bp upstream the mt coding region by genome walking. Nine pmt alleles were discovered in NW-European populations. They differ in the number of some indels, consensus transcription factor binding sites and core promoter elements. Extensive recombination events between some of the alleles can be inferred from the alignment. A deviation from neutral expectations was detected in a cadmium tolerant population, pointing towards balancing selection on some promoter stretches. Luciferase constructs were made from the most abundant alleles, and responses to Cd, paraquat (oxidative stress inducer) and moulting hormone were studied in cell lines. By using paraquat we were able to dissect the effect of oxidative stress from the Cd specific effect, and extensive differences in mt induction levels between these two stressors were observed. Conclusion The pmt alleles evolved by a number of recombination events, and exhibited differential inducibilities by Cd, paraquat and molting hormone. In a tolerant population from a metal contaminated site, promoter allele frequencies differed significantly from a reference site and nucleotide polymorphisms in some promoter stretches deviated from neutral expectations, revealing a signature of balancing selection. Our results suggest that the structural differences in the Orchesella cincta metallothionein promoter alleles contribute to the metallothionein -over-expresser phenotype in cadmium tolerant populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thierry KS Janssens
- Vrije Universiteit, Institute of Ecological Sciences, Department of Animal Ecology, De Boelelaan 1085, 1081 HV Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Janine Mariën
- Vrije Universiteit, Institute of Ecological Sciences, Department of Animal Ecology, De Boelelaan 1085, 1081 HV Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Peter Cenijn
- Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Institute for Environmental Studies (IVM), de Boelelaan 1085, 1081 HV Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - J Legler
- Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Institute for Environmental Studies (IVM), de Boelelaan 1085, 1081 HV Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Nico M van Straalen
- Vrije Universiteit, Institute of Ecological Sciences, Department of Animal Ecology, De Boelelaan 1085, 1081 HV Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Dick Roelofs
- Vrije Universiteit, Institute of Ecological Sciences, Department of Animal Ecology, De Boelelaan 1085, 1081 HV Amsterdam, the Netherlands
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49
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Svendsen C, Hankard PK, Lister LJ, Fishwick SK, Jonker MJ, Spurgeon DJ. Effect of temperature and season on reproduction, neutral red retention and metallothionein responses of earthworms exposed to metals in field soils. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2007; 147:83-93. [PMID: 17045713 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2006.08.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2006] [Revised: 06/22/2006] [Accepted: 08/18/2006] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
Abstract
This study investigated the short-term survival, reproduction and physiological (lysosomal membrane stability, metallothionein transcript copy number, body tissue metal concentrations) responses of Lumbricus rubellus exposed to metal contaminated field soils under different laboratory temperatures (10, 15 and 20 degrees C) and physiological responses of earthworms collected from the field in three different seasons (spring, autumn, winter). In the laboratory, metal contaminated soils had significant effects on reproduction (p<0.001), metallothionein-2 (MT-2) expression (p=0.033) and earthworm As (p=0.003), Cd (p=0.001), Pb (p<0.001) and Zn (p<0.001) concentration, but not lysosomal membrane stability and tissue Hg and Cu. No effect of temperature was found for any parameter. Principal component analysis of extractable and tissue metal concentrations indicated PC1 as a measure of metal stress. Both cocoon production (r=-0.75) and MT-2 induction (r=0.41) were correlated with PC1. A correlation was also found between cocoon production and MT-2 expression (r=-0.41). Neutral red retention and MT-2 measurements in worms collected from the field sites in three seasons confirmed the absence of a temperature effect on these responses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claus Svendsen
- Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, Monks Wood, Abbots Ripton, Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire PE28 2LS, UK.
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50
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Demuynck S, Grumiaux F, Mottier V, Schikorski D, Lemière S, Leprêtre A. Cd/Zn exposure interactions on metallothionein response in Eisenia fetida (Annelida, Oligochaeta). Comp Biochem Physiol C Toxicol Pharmacol 2007; 145:658-68. [PMID: 17433784 DOI: 10.1016/j.cbpc.2007.03.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2006] [Revised: 02/27/2007] [Accepted: 03/01/2007] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
We studied metallothionein (MT) response in the manure worm Eisenia fetida after exposures to cadmium (Cd), zinc (Zn) or cadmium and zinc spiked media. MT was studied both at the protein level by Dot Immunobinding Assay, (DIA) and at the expression level by Northern blotting. Cd was highly accumulated by worms whereas Zn body concentration was regulated. In addition, Zn would limit Cd accumulation in worms exposed to low Cd concentrations (1 and 8 mg Cd kg(-1) of dry soil). Exposure to a mixture of Cd and Zn at high concentrations increased cytosolic MT levels. This increase would allow worms to regulate body Zn concentrations and also to limit Cd toxicity. Cd exposures increased gene expression of Cd-binding MT isoform (MT 2A) whereas Zn did not. However, when both metals were at high concentrations in the exposure medium, this expression was further increased. Several hypotheses are proposed to explain the results and the best approach to estimate metal exposure of this earthworm species is given. Further experiments have now to be performed to evaluate the usefulness of these MT responses for field contaminated soils toxicity assessment using this earthworm species.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Demuynck
- Laboratoire d'Ecologie Numérique et d'Ecotoxicologie, UPRES EA 3570, FR 1818 CNRS, Université des Sciences et Technologies de Lille, F-59655 Villeneuve d'Ascq Cedex, France.
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