Metallomics in environmental and health related research: Current status and perspectives

Abstract

Metals and metalloids play distinct roles in human health, either beneficial or toxic, depending on their concentrations and species. There is an increasing interest in metals uptake, trafficking, function, and exertion in microorganisms to maintain and advance human health. Metallomics, an emerging research area, focuses on elucidation of metals/metalloids location, distribution, speciation, and behavior in living organisms. This paper briefly summarized the recent progress on the methodology development of metallomics including various techniques, i.e. multiple dimensional liquid chromatography-inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LC-ICPMS), gel electrophoresis-laser ablation-inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (GE-LA-ICPMS), synchrotron X-ray fluorescent spectroscopy (XFS), and the applications of metallomics in environmental and health care.

Analysis of Human Serum and Whole Blood for Mineral Content by ICP-MS and ICP-OES: Development of a Mineralomics Method

“…[4–7] A subfield of metallomics has emerged that is referred to as mineralomics, which focuses on the essential minerals and their relationship to the health of individuals. [8] Mineralomic studies can be combined with traditional metabolomics studies to provide a comprehensive view of the chemicals contained in the body and their relationship to a variety of health states including heart disease and obesity.…”

Evaluation of a novel method for measurement of intracellular calcium ion concentration in fission yeast

“…Currently, about 28 elements are considered as essential or beneficial components, regulating a great number of biological processes and sustaining a healthy functional environment in living organisms (Hu et al, 2013). The "metallome" can be defined as the distribution of metal and metalloid species in the cell compartments.…”

“…Calcium ion has the potential to modulate proliferation and apoptosis of cancer cells, and at the same time, it modulates proliferation, apoptosis, and effector efficacy of immune cells (Schwarz et al, 2013). On that account, systematic studies on the metal uptake, trafficking, and functions in many basic and complex biological processes aid in understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying the beneficial or toxic effects exerted by a given metal or metalloid, and further elucidating their impact on human health (Hu et al, 2013).…”

‘Venus trapped, Mars transits': Cu and Fe redox chemistry, cellular topography and in situ ligand binding in terrestrial isopod hepatopancreas

“…The broad aim of this study was the in situ characterization of the distinct Cu-phile and Fe-phile organelles in two specialized epithelial cell types in order to better understand how transition metal storage and metabolism in woodlice contribute to their success as land colonizers, and also to explore the possibility that these organelles might provide tractable model systems for probing vital aspects of transition metal speciation and interactions at the subcellular level. Of all the available bio-imaging techniques, high-brightness and highly coherent synchrotron-based X-ray fluorescence (XRF) microscopy is uniquely capable of providing the necessary analytical sensitivity, spatial resolution and ability to determine metal oxidation states [ 15 , 16 , 37 ] to pursue these goals. Our study had a core specific aim: to determine in situ the oxidation states and ligand-binding speciation of Cu and Fe in the S and B cells of the hepatopancreas in laboratory-acclimated woodlouse ( O. asellus ) at two extreme nodes of the presumptive daily B-cell extrusion/restitution cycle, using preparative procedures that preserve simultaneously the integrity of cellular morphology and chemistry.…”