Glutathione transferase (GST) as a candidate molecular-based biomarker for soil toxin exposure in the earthworm Lumbricus rubellus.
The earthworm Lumbricus rubellus (Hoffmeister, 1843) is a terrestrial pollution sentinel. Enzyme activity and transcription of phase II detoxification superfamily glutathione transferases (GST) is known to respond in earthworms after soil toxin exposure, suggesting GST as a candidate molecular-based pollution biomarker. This study combined sub-proteomics, bioinformatics and biochemical assay to characterise the L. rubellus GST complement as pre-requisite to initialise assessment of the applicability of GST as a biomarker. L. rubellus possesses a range of GSTs related to known classes, with evidence of tissue-specific synthesis. Two affinity-purified GSTs dominating GST protein synthesis (Sigma and Pi class) were cloned, expressed and characterised for enzyme activity with various substrates. Electrospray ionisation mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) and tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) following SDS-PAGE were superior in retaining subunit stability relative to two-dimensional gel electrophoresis (2-DE). This study provides greater understanding of Phase II detoxification GST superfamily status of an important environmental pollution sentinel organism.
LaCourse
E James
EJ
Institute of Biological, Environmental, and Rural Sciences, Aberystwyth University, Aberystwyth SY23 3DA, UK. james.la-course@liverpool.ac.uk
Hernandez-Viadel
Mariluz
M
Jefferies
James R
JR
Svendsen
Claus
C
Spurgeon
David J
DJ
Barrett
John
J
Morgan
A John
AJ
Kille
Peter
P
Brophy
Peter M
PM
D000818:Animals; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods*; D005982:Glutathione Transferase / Q000378:metabolism*; D050217:Metabolic Detoxication, Phase II; D009835:Oligochaeta / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D012989:Soil Pollutants / Q000633:toxicity*
D015415:Biomarkers; D012989:Soil Pollutants; D005982:Glutathione Transferase