In vivo formation of natural HgSe nanoparticles in the liver and brain of pilot whales.
To understand the biochemistry of methylmercury (MeHg) that leads to the formation of mercury-selenium (Hg-Se) clusters is a long outstanding challenge that promises to deepen our knowledge of MeHg detoxification and the role Se plays in this process. Here, we show that mercury selenide (HgSe) nanoparticles in the liver and brain of long-finned pilot whales are attached to Se-rich structures and possibly act as a nucleation point for the formation of large Se-Hg clusters, which can grow with age to over 5 μm in size. The detoxification mechanism is fully developed from the early age of the animals, with particulate Hg found already in juvenile tissues. As a consequence of MeHg detoxification, Se-methionine, the selenium pool in the system is depleted in the efforts to maintain essential levels of Se-cysteine. This study provides evidence of so far unreported depletion of the bioavailable Se pool, a plausible driving mechanism of demonstrated neurotoxic effects of MeHg in the organism affected by its high dietary intake.
Trace Element Speciation Laboratory, Department of Chemistry, Meston Walk, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, AB24 3UE, UK.
Zuzana
Z
Gajdosechova
Trace Element Speciation Laboratory, Department of Chemistry, Meston Walk, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, AB24 3UE, UK.
Mohammed M
MM
Lawan
Trace Element Speciation Laboratory, Department of Chemistry, Meston Walk, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, AB24 3UE, UK.
Dagmar S
DS
Urgast
Trace Element Speciation Laboratory, Department of Chemistry, Meston Walk, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, AB24 3UE, UK.
Andrea
A
Raab
United States Environmental Protection Agency, National Risk Management Research Laboratory, 5995 Center Hill Avenue, Cincinnati, OH 45224, USA.
Kirk G
KG
Scheckel
Future Industries Institute, University of South Australia, Building X, Mawson Lakes Campus, Mawson Lakes, 5095 South Australia.
Enzo
E
Lombi
School Agriculture and Food Sciences, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland, 4072, Australia.
Peter M
PM
Kopittke
National Food Institute, Technical University of Denmark, Mørkhøj Bygade 19, DK-2860 Søborg, Denmark.
Katrin
K
Loeschner
National Food Institute, Technical University of Denmark, Mørkhøj Bygade 19, DK-2860 Søborg, Denmark.
Erik H
EH
Larsen
Agilent Technologies Ltd, 5500 Lakeside, Cheadle, SK8 3GR, UK.
Glenn
G
Woods
SAC Wildlife Unit, Inverness, UK.
Andrew
A
Brownlow
Oceanlab, University of Aberdeen, Main Street, Newburgh, Aberdeenshire, AB41 6AA, UK.
Fiona L
FL
Read
Trace Element Speciation Laboratory, Department of Chemistry, Meston Walk, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, AB24 3UE, UK.
Jörg
J
Feldmann
Trace Element Speciation Laboratory, Department of Chemistry, Meston Walk, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, AB24 3UE, UK.
Eva M
EM
Krupp
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