Heat-shock protein (Hsp70) and cytochrome P-450 (CYP1A) in the white mullet Mugil curema (Pisces:Mugilidae) as biomarkers to assess environmental quality in coastal lagoons.
Biomarkers have been useful tools to monitor some effects of pollution in coastal environments. Hepatic expression of heat-shock protein 70 (Hsp70) and cytochrome P450 1A (CYP1A) were analyzed in white mullet (Mugil curema) by RT-PCR from July, 2005 until July, 2006 in three coastal lagoons located in the southern Gulf of California, Mexico. These three coastal systems receive contaminants derived from local anthropogenic activities. Heat-shock proteins function to maintain protein integrity in the presence of stressors (such as heat or chemicals) and can be used as biomarkers of homeostatic alterations in polluted environments, whereas cytochrome P450 family members participate in steroid hormone synthesis and metabolism, and in xenobiotic transformation as a detoxification mechanism. The expression levels of both genes showed consistency in time and space, and presented a high overall correlation (r = 0.731, P < 0.001). Regardless of a high individual variability, both genes presented higher expression levels in the Urias Estuary (P < 0.001 and P < 0.05 for CYP1A and Hsp70, respectively), which was considered the most polluted among the three systems, especially during the rainy season (summer to fall). Gene expression levels were significantly associated with non-halogenated hydrocarbon concentrations in sediments during the sampling period (r = 0.686, P = 0.019 for CYP1A and r = 0.91, P < 0.001 for Hsp70), suggesting that both genes respond to chemicals in the environment. The results indicate that Mugil curema is a good candidate species to implement biomonitoring programs in tropical coastal environments.
Rios-Sicairos
Julian
J
Centro de Investigacion en Alimentacion y Desarrollo, Unidad Mazatlan, Mazatlan, Mexico.
Betancourt-Lozano
Miguel
M
Leal-Tarin
Beatriz
B
Hernandez-Cornejo
Rubi
R
Aguilar-Zarate
Gabriela
G
Garcia-De-La-Parra
Luz Maria
LM
Gutierrez
Jesus N
JN
Marquez-Rocha
Facundo
F
Garcia-Gasca
Alejandra
A
D000818:Animals; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism; D019363:Cytochrome P-450 CYP1A1 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D005260:Female; D015870:Gene Expression; D018840:HSP70 Heat-Shock Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D006838:Hydrocarbons / Q000032:analysis; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D010053:Ovary / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development / Q000473:pathology; D012623:Seawater / Q000032:analysis; D023701:Smegmamorpha / Q000502:physiology*; D013737:Testis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development / Q000473:pathology; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis / Q000633:toxicity*
D015415:Biomarkers; D018840:HSP70 Heat-Shock Proteins; D006838:Hydrocarbons; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D019363:Cytochrome P-450 CYP1A1