Multiple piscine vitellogenins: biomarkers of fish exposure to estrogenic endocrine disruptors in aquatic environments

Abstract

Vitellogenin (Vg), a major estrogen-inducible yolk precursor protein, has become an important biomarker for assessing the estrogenic potency of chemicals and the exposure of animals to estrogenic contaminants present in aquatic environments. These contaminants, which can disrupt functioning of the vertebrate neuroendocrine system, are

Vitellogenesis and choriogenesis in fishes

“…As indicated by this study, blood Monomeric Lv is composed of two subunits: a heavy chain (LvH) and a light chain (LvL). This figure is reproduced from the one published in Hiramatsu et al [66] serum levels of Vtg in females fluctuate over a relatively wide range (from 1 µg/ml to several tens of mg/ml), compared with those of other serum proteins.…”

“…Based on these results, the molecular sequence of the egg yolk proteins in Vtg is considered to be expressed, from the N-terminus, as NH 2 -(LvH)-(Pv)-(LvL)-(β′-c)-(C-terminal coding domain)-COOH (see Fig. 2) [21,22,[64][65][66].…”

“…In addition, three distinct types of Vtg have been purified or detected in mosquitofish Gambusia affinis [90], red seabream Pagrus major [91] and grey mullet [92]. Two or three types of Vtgs have been detected as proteins with distinct antigenicity in various existing fish species [66]. Table 1 shows a summary of multiple Vtg genes and proteins reported in the literature [22].…”

“…In general, after exposure to estrogen, Vtg protein in the blood can be detected for a longer period of time than Vtg mRNA in the liver, suggesting that each measurement reflects a distinct exposure history, with the elevation of Vtg mRNA levels in the liver being a temporary phenomenon reflecting more recent exposure than protein detection in the blood. Ideally, the detection of both products will enable chronological assessments in terms of EEDC exposure history [66].…”

The complete mitochondrial genome sequence of white perch Morone americana (Perciformes, Moronidae)

“…They are typically found in coastal bays and estuaries, as well as freshwater and brackish lakes and ponds (Woolcott 1962). Because of its abundance and euryhaline distribution in western Atlantic waters, M. americana is often used as an indicator species for contaminants (King et al 2004;Hiramatsu et al 2006;Barnthouse et al 2009). To better understand spatial and ontogenetic patterns of contaminant accumulation in this species, genetic markers are needed to elucidate fine-scale population structure and demography.…”