Abstract
Freshwater invertebrates are often exposed to metal contamination, and changes in gene expression patterns can help understand mechanisms underlying toxicity and act as pollutant-specific biomarkers. In this study the expressions of genes involved in cysteine metabolism are characterized in the midge Chironomus tepperi during exposures to sublethal concentrations of cadmium and copper. These metals altered gene expression of the cysteine metabolism differently. Both metals decreased S-adenosylhomocysteine hydrolase expression and did not change the expression of S-adenosylmethionine synthetase. Cadmium exposure likely increased cystathionine production by up-regulating cystathionine-β-synthase (CβS) expression, while maintaining control level cysteine production via cystathionine-γ-lyase (CγL) expression. Conversely, copper down-regulated CβS expression and up-regulated CγL expression, which in turn could diminish cystathionine to favor cysteine production. Both metals up-regulated glutathione related expression (γ-glutamylcysteine synthase and glutathione synthetase). Only cadmium up-regulated metallothionein expression and glutathione S-transferase d1 expression was up-regulated only by copper exposure. These different transcription responses of genes involved in cysteine metabolism in C. tepperi point to metal-specific detoxification pathways and suggest that the transsulfuration pathway could provide biomarkers for identifying specific metals.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 1-6 |
| Number of pages | 6 |
| Journal | Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology - C Toxicology and Pharmacology |
| Volume | 162 |
| Issue number | 1 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 1 Jan 2014 |
| Externally published | Yes |
Keywords
- Cadmium
- Chironomus
- Copper
- Cysteine
- Gene expression
- Transsulfuration
Cite this
}
Genes involved in cysteine metabolism of Chironomus tepperi are regulated differently by copper and by cadmium. / Jeppe, Katherine J.; Carew, Melissa E.; Long, Sara M.; Lee, Siu F.; Pettigrove, Vincent; Hoffmann, Ary A.
In: Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology - C Toxicology and Pharmacology, Vol. 162, No. 1, 01.01.2014, p. 1-6.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Research › peer-review
TY - JOUR
T1 - Genes involved in cysteine metabolism of Chironomus tepperi are regulated differently by copper and by cadmium
AU - Jeppe, Katherine J.
AU - Carew, Melissa E.
AU - Long, Sara M.
AU - Lee, Siu F.
AU - Pettigrove, Vincent
AU - Hoffmann, Ary A.
PY - 2014/1/1
Y1 - 2014/1/1
N2 - Freshwater invertebrates are often exposed to metal contamination, and changes in gene expression patterns can help understand mechanisms underlying toxicity and act as pollutant-specific biomarkers. In this study the expressions of genes involved in cysteine metabolism are characterized in the midge Chironomus tepperi during exposures to sublethal concentrations of cadmium and copper. These metals altered gene expression of the cysteine metabolism differently. Both metals decreased S-adenosylhomocysteine hydrolase expression and did not change the expression of S-adenosylmethionine synthetase. Cadmium exposure likely increased cystathionine production by up-regulating cystathionine-β-synthase (CβS) expression, while maintaining control level cysteine production via cystathionine-γ-lyase (CγL) expression. Conversely, copper down-regulated CβS expression and up-regulated CγL expression, which in turn could diminish cystathionine to favor cysteine production. Both metals up-regulated glutathione related expression (γ-glutamylcysteine synthase and glutathione synthetase). Only cadmium up-regulated metallothionein expression and glutathione S-transferase d1 expression was up-regulated only by copper exposure. These different transcription responses of genes involved in cysteine metabolism in C. tepperi point to metal-specific detoxification pathways and suggest that the transsulfuration pathway could provide biomarkers for identifying specific metals.
AB - Freshwater invertebrates are often exposed to metal contamination, and changes in gene expression patterns can help understand mechanisms underlying toxicity and act as pollutant-specific biomarkers. In this study the expressions of genes involved in cysteine metabolism are characterized in the midge Chironomus tepperi during exposures to sublethal concentrations of cadmium and copper. These metals altered gene expression of the cysteine metabolism differently. Both metals decreased S-adenosylhomocysteine hydrolase expression and did not change the expression of S-adenosylmethionine synthetase. Cadmium exposure likely increased cystathionine production by up-regulating cystathionine-β-synthase (CβS) expression, while maintaining control level cysteine production via cystathionine-γ-lyase (CγL) expression. Conversely, copper down-regulated CβS expression and up-regulated CγL expression, which in turn could diminish cystathionine to favor cysteine production. Both metals up-regulated glutathione related expression (γ-glutamylcysteine synthase and glutathione synthetase). Only cadmium up-regulated metallothionein expression and glutathione S-transferase d1 expression was up-regulated only by copper exposure. These different transcription responses of genes involved in cysteine metabolism in C. tepperi point to metal-specific detoxification pathways and suggest that the transsulfuration pathway could provide biomarkers for identifying specific metals.
KW - Cadmium
KW - Chironomus
KW - Copper
KW - Cysteine
KW - Gene expression
KW - Transsulfuration
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84896513326&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.cbpc.2014.02.006
DO - 10.1016/j.cbpc.2014.02.006
M3 - Article
VL - 162
SP - 1
EP - 6
JO - Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology, Part C
JF - Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology, Part C
SN - 1532-0456
IS - 1
ER -