title: Environmental metabonomics: applying combination biomarker analysis in earthworms at a metal contaminated site.
abstract: Earthworms were taken across an environmental gradient of metal contamination for ecotoxicology assessment. Both indigenous (Lumbricus rubellus and L. terrestris) and introduced earthworms (Eisenia andrei, exposed in mesh bags) were studied. Changes in the levels of small molecule metabolites in earthworm tissue extracts were analysed by 1H NMR spectroscopy as a means of identifying combination biomarker compounds. Principal components analysis of the NMR spectral data revealed that biochemical changes were induced across the metal contamination gradient. Native worms (L. rubellus) from the most polluted sites were associated with an increase in the relative concentration of maltose; a decrease was also seen in the concentration of an as yet unidentified biomarker compound. Introduced worms (E. andrei) did not show differences to the same extent. Direct integration of the resonances from histidine and 1-methylhistidine showed that relative histidine concentrations were elevated slightly for L. rubellus, confirming the results of earlier mesocosm studies. Conversely, the relative concentrations of both histidine and 1-methylhistidine were greatly reduced by metal contamination in L. terrestris. This study demonstrates the utility of NMR spectroscopy in detecting previously unknown potential biomarkers for ecotoxicity testing and identified maltose as a potential biomarker compound deserving of further study.
authors.affiliation: Biological Chemistry, Biomedical Sciences Division, Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine, Sir Alexander Fleming Building, London SW7 2AZ, UK. jgb12@mole.bio.cam.ac.uk
authors.forename: Jacob G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Bundy
authors.forename: David J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Spurgeon
authors.forename: Claus
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Svendsen
authors.forename: Peter K
authors.initials: PK
authors.lastname: Hankard
authors.forename: Jason M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Weeks
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Osborn
authors.forename: John C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Lindon
authors.forename: Jeremy K
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Nicholson
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis; D004739:England; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods*; D009682:Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy; D019216:Metals, Heavy / Q000032:analysis* / Q000633:toxicity; D009835:Oligochaeta / Q000187:drug effects; D012989:Soil Pollutants / Q000032:analysis* / Q000633:toxicity
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D019216:Metals, Heavy; D012989:Soil Pollutants
references.citation: Environ Pollut. 1993;82(1):1-7
references.pmid: 15091792
references.citation: Biomarkers. 1997;2(5):295-302
references.pmid: 23889111
references.citation: Environ Health Perspect. 1998 Apr;106 Suppl 2:593-611
references.pmid: 9599707
references.citation: Ecotoxicology. 2004 Nov;13(8):725-37
references.pmid: 15736845
references.citation: Biomarkers. 2001;6(1):33-44
references.pmid: 23886055
references.citation: Biochem J. 1983 Jun 1;211(3):605-15
references.pmid: 6411064
references.citation: Biomarkers. 2000;5(1):56-72
references.pmid: 23885906
references.citation: Ecotoxicology. 1994 Sep;3(3):161-72
references.pmid: 24202002
references.citation: Ecotoxicology. 2004 Nov;13(8):817-22
references.pmid: 15736852
references.citation: Comp Biochem Physiol B Biochem Mol Biol. 2000 Nov;127(3):357-67
references.pmid: 11126766
references.citation: Clin Chem. 1995 Dec;41(12 Pt 2):1902-4
references.pmid: 7497652
references.citation: Rev Environ Contam Toxicol. 2000;164:93-147
references.pmid: 12587835
references.citation: Ecotoxicology. 1994 Sep;3(3):157-60
references.pmid: 24202001
references.citation: J Cell Comp Physiol. 1964 Dec;64:465-71
references.pmid: 14245924
references.citation: Ecotoxicol Environ Saf. 1996 Jun;34(1):59-69
references.pmid: 8793321