title: Expression of CYP4 and GSTr genes in Venerupis philippinarum exposed to benzo(a)pyrene.
abstract: Bivalve molluscs, such as Venerupis philippinarum, are often used as bioindicators of environmental pollution since they can bioaccumulate a large variety of pollutants because of their filter feeding. The Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon (PAH) benzo(a)pyrene (B(a)P) is an important contaminant, commonly present in the marine environment. Pollutants are generally metabolized by enzymes of phase I, mainly CYPs enzymes, and by conjugation enzymes of phase II like GST. In this study, we investigated by Real Time PCR the expression of CYP4 and GSTr (GST class rho) in the digestive gland of V. philippinarum exposed to different concentrations of B(a)P for 24 h and after a 24 h depuration period. Accumulation of B(a)P by clams has been confirmed by the HPLC-FLD analyses. Moreover, HPLC-FLD analyses evidenced that after depuration, B(a)P concentrations decreased in animals subjected to 0.03 mg/l and 0.5mg/l exposures but did not decrease in animals subjected to 1mg/l exposure. B(a)P exposure and depuration did not cause histopathological lesions in the different organs. The analysis of GSTr expression in the digestive gland showed a significant increase in mRNA in animals subjected to 1 mg/l exposure, whereas the analysis of CYP4 expression did not evidence differences among treatments. Moreover, the expression of both genes did not exhibit any differences after the purification treatment. The results demonstrate that B(a)P significantly affects the expression of GSTr mRNA in the digestive gland of V. philippinarum and suggest that GSTr gene could play an important role in the biotransformation of B(a)P.
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Biomedicina Comparata e Alimentazione, Università degli Studi di Padova, Agripolis, Viale dell'Università, 16, 35020 Legnaro, PD, Italy.
authors.forename: Michele
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Boscolo Papo
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Biomedicina Comparata e Alimentazione, Università degli Studi di Padova, Agripolis, Viale dell'Università, 16, 35020 Legnaro, PD, Italy.
authors.forename: Lisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Maccatrozzo
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Biomedicina Comparata e Alimentazione, Università degli Studi di Padova, Agripolis, Viale dell'Università, 16, 35020 Legnaro, PD, Italy.
authors.forename: Daniela
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Bertotto
authors.affiliation: Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale delle Venezie, Viale dell'Università, 10, 35020 Legnaro, PD, Italy.
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Pascoli
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Biomedicina Comparata e Alimentazione, Università degli Studi di Padova, Agripolis, Viale dell'Università, 16, 35020 Legnaro, PD, Italy.
authors.forename: Elena
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Negrato
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Biomedicina Comparata e Alimentazione, Università degli Studi di Padova, Agripolis, Viale dell'Università, 16, 35020 Legnaro, PD, Italy.
authors.forename: Carlo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Poltronieri
authors.affiliation: Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale delle Venezie, Viale dell'Università, 10, 35020 Legnaro, PD, Italy.
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Binato
authors.affiliation: Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale delle Venezie, Viale dell'Università, 10, 35020 Legnaro, PD, Italy.
authors.forename: Albino
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gallina
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Biomedicina Comparata e Alimentazione, Università degli Studi di Padova, Agripolis, Viale dell'Università, 16, 35020 Legnaro, PD, Italy. Electronic address: giuseppe.radaelli@unipd.it.
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Radaelli
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001564:Benzo(a)pyrene / Q000633:toxicity*; D049872:Bivalvia / Q000502:physiology*; D042926:Cytochrome P-450 CYP4A / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics*; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000633:toxicity*; D005088:Exocrine Glands / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology; D005982:Glutathione Transferase / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics*; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation / Q000187:drug effects; D008315:Malondialdehyde / Q000378:metabolism; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000302:isolation & purification
chemical_list: D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D001564:Benzo(a)pyrene; D008315:Malondialdehyde; D042926:Cytochrome P-450 CYP4A; D005982:Glutathione Transferase
keywords: Benzo(a)pyrene; CYP4; Clam; GSTr; Histology; Molecular biology; Venerupis philippinarum