title: Protein markers of algal toxin contamination in shellfish.
abstract: Filter-feeding bivalve molluscs are often contaminated by algal toxins. We have probed whether proteomic analysis of extracts from the digestive gland (DG) of mussels could be employed to identify biomarkers of contamination due to okadaic acid-group toxins. The protein extracts were obtained from 18 separate mussel samples and were analyzed by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis. When samples were divided into four different classes based on the content of OA-group toxins in the starting material, we found that two proteins varied as a function of OA contamination. By BLAST analysis, the two proteins were identified as a component of photosystem II and a subunit of NADH dehydrogenase. The analysis of peptide homologies showed that the peptide of photosystem II we detected in extracts from the DG of mussels contaminated by OA-group toxins is identical to its counterpart in Dinophysis algae, which are the producers of this group of toxins. We concluded that proteomic analysis can be used for the detection and identification of biomarkers of biotoxin contamination in shellfish, including both proteins expressed by the toxin producers and components that participate to the tissue response to the exogenous bioactive contaminant.
authors.affiliation: Università di Modena e Reggio Emilia, Dipartimento di Scienze Biomediche, Via G. Campi 287, I-41100 Modena, Italy.
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ronzitti
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Milandri
authors.forename: Giampiero
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Scortichini
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Poletti
authors.forename: Gian Paolo
authors.initials: GP
authors.lastname: Rossini
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis; D049872:Bivalvia / Q000378:metabolism*; D015180:Electrophoresis, Gel, Two-Dimensional; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods; D056890:Eukaryota / Q000378:metabolism; D005506:Food Contamination; D008387:Marine Toxins / Q000032:analysis*; D009245:NADH Dehydrogenase / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D019319:Okadaic Acid / Q000032:analysis*; D045332:Photosystem II Protein Complex / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D021122:Protein Subunits / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D040901:Proteomics; D012758:Shellfish
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D008387:Marine Toxins; D045332:Photosystem II Protein Complex; D021122:Protein Subunits; D019319:Okadaic Acid; D009245:NADH Dehydrogenase