Toxicological effects of environmentally relevant lead and zinc in halophyte Suaeda salsa by NMR-based metabolomics

Abstract

a b s t r a c tMercury is a highly risky heavy metal contaminant in intertidal zones in the Yellow River Delta (YRD). Suaeda salsa is a native halophyte in the YRD. In this work, we investigated the toxicological effects of mercury (20 mg L À 1 ) in S. salsa under environmentally relevant salinity (500 mM). The metabolic responses included the increased amino acids and decreased succinate, fructose, glucose, fumarate and ferulate in above-ground part of S. salsa exposed to mercury. The expression levels of INPS, CMO, BADH, CAT and GPx were elevated in above-ground part of S. salsa after combined Hg and salinity exposure. Increased activities of antioxidant enzymes including SOD, POD and CAT were uniquely observed in salinity-treated samples. Our results indicated potential oxidative stresses and disturbances in protein bio-degradation and energy metabolism induced by mercury in S. salsa. Additionally, both synergistic and antagonistic effects were observed in S. salsa exposed to combined mercury and salinity.

Environmental metabolomics: Biological markers for metal toxicity

“…showed the biological response of halophytic plant suaeda salsa under Pb, Zn, and Hg exposure using NMR‐based metabolomics combined with antioxidant enzyme activities measurement []. On the one hand, the short (1 week) and long term (1 month) toxicological effects of environmentally relevant concentrations of Pb and Zn were characterized in S. salsa . In this study, after metal exposure for 1 week, no significant metabolic responses were detected in root tissues, which involve the increase of isocaproate, glucose, and fructose, and decrease of malate, citrate, and sucrose in root tissues of S. salsa exposed to Pb for 1 month.…”

“…Other experiments carried out by Wu et al . showed the biological response of halophytic plant suaeda salsa under Pb, Zn, and Hg exposure using NMR‐based metabolomics combined with antioxidant enzyme activities measurement []. On the one hand, the short (1 week) and long term (1 month) toxicological effects of environmentally relevant concentrations of Pb and Zn were characterized in S. salsa .…”

“…Finally, simultaneous administration of Pb and Zn induces decreased malate, citrate, and sucrose. These metabolic perturbations revealed that both Pb and Zn exposures could induce osmotic stress and disturbances in energy metabolism after 1‐month exposures . On the other hand, Wu et al .…”

Molecular dynamics simulations integrating kinetics for Pb2+-induced arginine kinase inactivation and aggregation

“…Several bioindicators, mostly enzymes and metabolites in seawater organisms, have been developed and tested to evaluate the contamination and toxicity of Pb 2+ as a pollutant [36][37][38][39]. The tested biochemical enzymes were catalase, reduced glutathione, glutathione S-transferase, lipid peroxides, superoxide dismutase and alkaline phosphatase.…”

Temporal variations and bioaccumulation of heavy metals in different Suaeda salsa marshes of the Yellow River estuary, China

“…Pb is not essential in plant organisms and can prove toxic. Wu et al (2012) found that Pb could induce osmotic and oxidative stresses and disturbances in energy metabolism in S. salsa after exposure for 1 month. According to Ross (1994), Pb concentrations were considered to have toxic effect on plants as the values exceeded the phytotoxic range (30~300 mg/kg).…”