Adverse effects of MWCNTs on life parameters, antioxidant systems, and activation of MAPK signaling pathways in the copepod Paracyclopina nana.
Engineered multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) have received widespread applications in a broad variety of commercial products due to low production cost. Despite their significant commercial applications, CNTs are being discharged to aquatic ecosystem, leading a threat to aquatic life. Thus, we investigated the adverse effect of CNTs on the marine copepod Paracyclopina nana. Additional to the study on the uptake of CNTs and acute toxicity, adverse effects on life parameters (e.g. growth, fecundity, and size) were analyzed in response to various concentrations of CNTs. Also, as a measurement of cellular damage, oxidative stress-related markers were examined in a time-dependent manner. Moreover, activation of redox-sensitive mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathways along with the phosphorylation pattern of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK), p38, and c-Jun-N-terminal kinases (JNK) were analyzed to obtain a better understanding of molecular mechanism of oxidative stress-induced toxicity in the copepod P. nana. As a result, significant inhibition on life parameters and evoked antioxidant systems were observed without ROS induction. In addition, CNTs activated MAPK signaling pathway via ERK, suggesting that phosphorylated ERK (p-ERK)-mediated adverse effects are the primary cause of in vitro and in vivo endpoints in response to CNTs exposure. Moreover, ROS-independent activation of MAPK signaling pathway was observed. These findings will provide a better understanding of the mode of action of CNTs on the copepod P. nana at cellular and molecular level and insight on possible ecotoxicological implications in the marine environment.
Department of Biological Science, College of Science, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon 16419, South Korea.
Duck-Hyun
DH
Kim
Department of Biological Science, College of Science, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon 16419, South Korea.
Jayesh
J
Puthumana
Department of Biological Science, College of Science, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon 16419, South Korea.
Hye-Min
HM
Kang
Department of Biological Science, College of Science, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon 16419, South Korea.
Min-Chul
MC
Lee
Department of Biological Science, College of Science, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon 16419, South Korea.
Chang-Bum
CB
Jeong
Department of Biological Science, College of Science, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon 16419, South Korea.
Jeonghoon
J
Han
Department of Biological Science, College of Science, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon 16419, South Korea.
Dae-Sik
DS
Hwang
Division of Polar Life Sciences, Korea Polar Research Institute, Incheon 21990, South Korea.
Il-Chan
IC
Kim
Department of Biological Science, College of Science, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon 16419, South Korea. Electronic address: yijinwuk79@gmail.com.
Jin Wuk
JW
Lee
Department of Biological Science, College of Science, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon 16419, South Korea. Electronic address: jslee2@skku.edu.
Jae-Seong
JS
Lee
D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000378:metabolism*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism; D015153:Blotting, Western; D033342:Copepoda / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D048049:Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases / Q000378:metabolism; D048031:JNK Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / Q000378:metabolism; D020935:MAP Kinase Signaling System / Q000187:drug effects*; D037742:Nanotubes, Carbon / Q000633:toxicity*; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects; D010766:Phosphorylation / Q000187:drug effects; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000378:metabolism; D023382:Toxicity Tests, Acute; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000633:toxicity*
D000975:Antioxidants; D015415:Biomarkers; D037742:Nanotubes, Carbon; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D048049:Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases; D048031:JNK Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases
Adverse effects; Antioxidant depletion; Copepod; Life parameters; MAPK signaling pathways; MWCNTs; Paracyclopina nana