Susceptibility to oxidative stress and modulated expression of antioxidant genes in the copper-exposed polychaete Perinereis nuntia.
To identify and evaluate potentially useful biomarkers for oxidative stress as early warning indices in the polychaete, Perinereis nuntia, we exposed P. nuntia to copper (Cu) and measured several biomarker enzymes (glutathione S-transferase; GST, glutathione peroxidase; GPx, Metallothionein-like protein; MTLPs, and catalase; CAT) and genes (Pn-GSTs, Pn-CAT, and Pn-MT) with a cellular oxidative index, reactive oxygen species (ROS) level. Accumulated Cu concentrations in P. nuntia increased in a time-dependent manner. Intracellular ROS reached high levels 6h after exposure in P. nuntia with an increase of GST activity and glutathione (GSH) content. Particularly, GSH in polychaetes showed a positive correlation with Cu contents accumulated in P. nuntia. Messenger RNA expressions of GST sigma and GST omega showed relatively high expressions at 50 μg/L of Cu exposure, even though the moderate increase of rest of GST isoforms was also observed. Also regarding long-term exposure, we reared P. nuntia in sediments for 15 days, and found that there was an obvious increase of Pn-GSTs, Pn-CAT, and Pn-MT genes with elevated concentrations of Cu and Cd in polychaete body, compared to initial levels, suggesting that P. nuntia in sediment was affected by metals as well as by other organic pollutants to induce oxidative stress genes and enzymes. These findings suggest that oxidative stress is a potential modulator of defense system of P. nuntia. Several potential biomarker genes are available as early warning signals for environmental biomonitoring.
Department of Environmental Marine Sciences, College of Science and Technology, Hanyang University, Ansan 426-791, South Korea.
Eun-Ji
EJ
Won
Jae-Sung
JS
Rhee
Ryeo-Ok
RO
Kim
Kongtae
K
Ra
Kyung-Tae
KT
Kim
Kyung-Hoon
KH
Shin
Jae-Seong
JS
Lee
D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000378:metabolism*; D002374:Catalase / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D003300:Copper / Q000378:metabolism / Q000633:toxicity*; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000378:metabolism / Q000633:toxicity; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects*; D005978:Glutathione / Q000378:metabolism; D005982:Glutathione Transferase / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D008668:Metallothionein / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D018384:Oxidative Stress; D011077:Polychaeta / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000378:metabolism; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
D000975:Antioxidants; D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D003300:Copper; D008668:Metallothionein; D002374:Catalase; D005982:Glutathione Transferase; D005978:Glutathione