title: Using environmental proteomics to assess pollutant response of Carcinus maenas along the Tunisian coast.
abstract: Biochemical responses to pollutants were studied at four Tunisia littoral sites using Carcinus maenas as a bioindicator. Proteomic analysis was used to assess the global impact of complex pollution mixtures, and to provide new biomarkers and basic insights into pollutant toxicity. Metal contents and metallothionein levels followed a gradient based on sampling sites: Bizerte ≫ Teboulba > Gargour~Mahres. Approximately 900 and 700 spots were resolved in digestive glands and gills, respectively. Gills from Bizerte animals had the maximum number of altered spots, mostly upregulated. In other locations, the number of altered spots in gills decreased in parallel to total metals in in the following order: Teboulba > Gargour > Mahres (mostly downregulated). Out of the 39 spots excised, ten proteins were identified in digestive glands and eight in gills. Digestive glands of Bizerte crabs had higher levels of ferritin, three vitellogenin forms and mannose-binding protein, while Gargour crabs had higher levels of four cryptocyanin forms. Gills of Bizerte crabs had higher levels of ferritin, three vitellogenins forms, lectin 4C, actin, and collagenolytic serine protease. Proteins with altered expression in crabs from Tunisia littoral are related to molting, oxidative stress and inflammation, innate immune response, and proteolysis.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Biochemical and Environmental Toxicology, Higher Institute of Agriculture, Chott-Mariem, 4042 Sousse, Tunisia.
authors.forename: Jihene
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ghedira
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Córdoba, 14071 Córdoba, Spain.
authors.forename: Eduardo
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Chicano-Gálvez
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Córdoba, 14071 Córdoba, Spain.
authors.forename: Ricardo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Fernández-Cisnal
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Biochemical and Environmental Toxicology, Higher Institute of Agriculture, Chott-Mariem, 4042 Sousse, Tunisia.
authors.forename: Jamel
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Jebali
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Biochemical and Environmental Toxicology, Higher Institute of Agriculture, Chott-Mariem, 4042 Sousse, Tunisia.
authors.forename: Mohamed
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Banni
authors.affiliation: Chemical Laboratory, Higher Institute of Marine Sciences and Technology, La Goulette Center, 2060 Tunis, Tunisia.
authors.forename: Lassaad
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Chouba
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Biochemical and Environmental Toxicology, Higher Institute of Agriculture, Chott-Mariem, 4042 Sousse, Tunisia.
authors.forename: Hamadi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Boussetta
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Córdoba, 14071 Córdoba, Spain. Electronic address: juanlopezbarea@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Juan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: López-Barea
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Córdoba, 14071 Córdoba, Spain.
authors.forename: José
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Alhama
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism; D003386:Brachyura / Q000378:metabolism*; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods*; D005880:Gills / Q000378:metabolism; D008668:Metallothionein / Q000378:metabolism; D020543:Proteome / Q000378:metabolism*; D040901:Proteomics; D014416:Tunisia; D014819:Vitellogenins / Q000378:metabolism; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D020543:Proteome; D014819:Vitellogenins; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D008668:Metallothionein
keywords: Crabs; Digestive glands; Environmental proteomics; Gills; Metallothioneins; Metals; Molecular pollution biomarkers; Oxidative stress