70-kDa heat shock cognate protein expression as a putative biomarker of heavy-metal burden in Mytilus galloprovincialis.

Ivana Ratkaj,Paula Žurga,Aleksandar Bulog,Sandra Kraljević Pavelić,Jasna Peter-Katalinić

doi:10.1186/s40064-015-1007-6

Ivana Ratkaj, Paula Žurga + Show 3 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1186/s40064-015-1007-6

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Journal: SpringerPlus	Publication Date: Jul 14, 2015
Citations: 14	License type: CC BY 4.0

Affiliation: as2con (Croatia), University of Rijeka

Abstract

BackgroundHeavy metals naturally occur in the marine environment and ecosystems. Due to anthropogenic influence they became common waters and coastal regions pollutants in particular where their concentrations remain hazardously high. We therefore tested a protocol for combined analysis of 6 heavy metal (Pb, Cd, Cr, Zn, Fe and Hg) concentrations in mussels Mytilus galloprovincialis collected from a coastal industrial zone (shipyard locality) and mariculture facilities in combination with expression analysis of multi xenobiotic resistance related genes and stress-related gene (HSC-70).FindingsIn this paper we tested a protocol for heavy-metal levels assessment by use of a highly sensitive analytical method, ICP-OES, combined with expression analysis of multi xenobiotic resistance related genes, including the stress-related gene encoding 70-kDa heat shock cognate protein on mussels (Mytillus Galloprovincialis). Mussels from the shipyard locality had higher heavy metal concentrations, except Fe. Higher metal concentrations did not influence expression of multi xenobiotic resistance related genes with exception of stress-related gene (HSC-70) encoding 70-kDa heat shock cognate protein.ConclusionsOur results indicate that mussels sampled in the industrial area have increased metal concentrations in comparison with the aquaculture locality, that are accompanied by increased transcript levels of HSC-70.

Highlights

Heavy metals naturally occur in the marine environment and ecosystems
Our results indicate that mussels sampled in the industrial area have increased metal concentrations in comparison with the aquaculture locality, that are accompanied by increased transcript levels of 70-kDa heat shock cognate protein (HSC-70)
For that purpose we used a combined protocol for analysis of stress-related gene (HSC-70), multi xenobiotic resistance (MXR)-related genes’ status and six heavy metal concentrations in mussels from a chosen location with predicted heavy-metal pollution in comparison with cultivated mussels grown in an ecologically stable unpolluted environment for mariculture

Summary

Introduction

Due to excessive anthropogenic influence, they have been growingly recognized as important factors underlying pathogenesis of several diseases. They are amongst most common pollutants of waters in general (Spada et al 2013). Increased concentrations of heavy metals, highly hazardous for marine ecosystems are being reported in coastal regions that are increasingly exploited for fishing and mariculture in (Spada et al 2013). Heavy metals naturally occur in the marine environment and ecosystems. Due to anthropogenic influence they became common waters and coastal regions pollutants in particular where their concentrations remain hazardously high. We tested a protocol for combined analysis of 6 heavy metal (Pb, Cd, Cr, Zn, Fe and Hg) concentrations in mussels Mytilus galloprovincialis collected from a coastal industrial zone (shipyard locality) and mariculture facilities in combination with expression analysis of multi xenobiotic resistance related genes and stress-related gene (HSC-70)

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