Contribution of hepatic cytochrome CYP1A and metallothionein mRNA abundance to biomonitoring-A case study with European flounder (Platichthys flesus) from the Gulf of Gdańsk.
The aim of the research was to explore the contribution of hepatic cytochrome CYP1A and metallothionein (MT) mRNA expression to biological effect monitoring. The study was conducted in the European flounder (Platichthys flesus) from the Gulf of Gdańsk. mRNA abundance was measured using reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) in liver RNA of fish sampled from three coastal stations and from one offshore station in the inner Gulf. The contribution of the mRNA-based biomarkers to the assessment of the environment was determined in conjunction with a selection of commonly applied biochemical markers: 7-ethoxyresorufin-O-deethylase (EROD), glutathione-S-transferase (GST), catalase (CAT), metallothioneins (MT), fluorescent aromatic compounds (FACs), all measured in the same individual fish. The mRNA biomarkers contributed to the separation between the sampling sites, but no correlations between CYP1A mRNA and EROD nor between MT mRNA and MT proteins were found, which should be attributed to the different levels these biomarkers correspond to and to the differences in factors that may affect them. One case of strong correlation between CYP1A mRNA and FACs was encountered. The overall results of this study suggest that biomarkers measured at the mRNA abundance level constitute a valuable addition to biomonitoring studies by providing additional information and contributing to the differentiation of results.
Institute of Oceanology, Polish Academy of Sciences, Marine Chemistry and Biochemistry Department, ul. Powstańców Warszawy 55, 81-712 Sopot, Poland; CIIMAR, Laboratory of Ecophysiology, Rua dos Bragas 289, 4050-123 Porto, Portugal; Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research - UFZ, Department of Cell Toxicology, Permoserstrasse 15, 04318 Leipzig, Germany. Electronic address: justyna.kopecka@yahoo.com.
Justyna
J
Kopecka-Pilarczyk
Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research - UFZ, Department of Cell Toxicology, Permoserstrasse 15, 04318 Leipzig, Germany; Eawag, Department of Environmental Toxicology, Überlandstrasse 133, P.O. Box 611, 8600 Dübendorf, Switzerland; School of Architecture, Civil and Environmental Engineering (ENAC), EPF Lausanne, GC A2 392 (Building GC), Station 18, CH-1015 Lausanne, Switzerland. Electronic address: kristin.schirmer@eawag.ch.
Kristin
K
Schirmer
D000818:Animals; D019363:Cytochrome P-450 CYP1A1 / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods*; D029941:Fish Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D005432:Flounder / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D015971:Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic / Q000187:drug effects; D005819:Genetic Markers; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology*; D008668:Metallothionein / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D018570:Risk Assessment; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000633:toxicity
D029941:Fish Proteins; D005819:Genetic Markers; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D008668:Metallothionein; D019363:Cytochrome P-450 CYP1A1
Baltic Sea; Biochemical markers; Fish; Gene expression; Pollution