A Molecular Mechanism to Explain the Nickel-Induced Changes in Protamine-like Proteins and Their DNA Binding Affecting Sperm Chromatin in Mytilus galloprovincialis: An In Vitro Study

Carbone, Gelsomina; Lettieri, Gennaro; Marinaro, Carmela; Costabile, Martina; Notariale, Rosaria; Bianchi, Anna Rita; Maio, Anna De; Piscopo, Marina

doi:10.3390/biom13030520

Cited by 12 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 72 publications

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“…In the present work, we used GC–MS-based metabolomics, in order to evaluate the metabolomic changes in spermatozoa of M. galloprovincialis after 24 h exposure to three heavy metals individually (copper, nickel, and cadmium) in the form of chlorides, at doses of 15 µM, 15 µM, and 1.5 µM, respectively, and their mixture. These doses were used because they had previously been tested in our experiments and were the ones that showed the most relevant effects for other analyses also relating to the reproductive system of M. galloprovincialis [ 9 , 27 , 28 , 29 , 30 ]. GC–MS-based metabolomics, when associated with pattern recognition techniques, is capable of detecting subtle differences in the metabolome of similar samples and has the potential to elucidate the interactions between organisms and environment.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In the present work, we evaluated the metabolomic changes in spermatozoa of this organism after 24 h of exposure to three heavy metals individually (copper, nickel, and cadmium) in the form of chlorides, at doses of 15 µM, 15 µM, and 1.5 µM, respectively, and their mixture. We have previously tested these doses for other aspects relating to the reproductive system of M. galloprovincialis , and they showed the greatest effects [ 9 , 27 , 28 ]. Differences and similarities in terms of qualitative and quantitative changes in their metabolic profiles, associated with the main physiological functions of these cells under investigation, were therefore analysed.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Impact of Heavy Metal Exposure on Mytilus galloprovincialis Spermatozoa: A Metabolomic Investigation

et al. 2023

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Metabolomics is a method that provides an overview of the physiological and cellular state of a specific organism or tissue. This method is particularly useful for studying the influence the environment can have on organisms, especially those used as bio-indicators, e.g., Mytilus galloprovincialis. Nevertheless, a scarcity of data on the complete metabolic baseline of mussel tissues still exists, but more importantly, the effect of mussel exposure to certain heavy metals on spermatozoa is unknown, also considering that, in recent years, the reproductive system has proved to be very sensitive to the effects of environmental pollutants. In order to fill this knowledge gap, the similarities and differences in the metabolic profile of spermatozoa of mussels exposed to metallic chlorides of copper, nickel, and cadmium, and to the mixture to these metals, were studied using a metabolomics approach based on GC–MS analysis, and their physiological role was discussed. A total of 237 endogenous metabolites were identified in the spermatozoa of these mussel. The data underwent preprocessing steps and were analyzed using statistical methods such as PLS-DA. The results showed effective class separation and identified key metabolites through the VIP scores. Heatmaps and cluster analysis further evaluated the metabolites. The metabolite-set enrichment analysis revealed complex interactions within metabolic pathways and metabolites, especially involving glucose and central carbon metabolism and oxidative stress metabolism. Overall, the results of this study are useful to better understand how some pollutants can affect the specific physiological functions of the spermatozoa of this mussel, as well as for further GC–MS-based metabolomic health and safety studies of marine bivalves.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Impact of Heavy Metal Exposure on Mytilus galloprovincialis Spermatozoa: A Metabolomic Investigation

et al. 2023

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“…Despite the important role played by PLs, these proteins are extremely sensitive to the exposure of M. galloprovincialis to various pollutants, including heavy metals [15,16]. In fact, we have shown that exposure of this mussel to some metals [17][18][19], but in particular chromium and mercury, can alter some properties of PLs [15,16,19,20]. As is well known, the heavy metals have proven to be a major threat to organism health, mostly because of their ability to perturb protein function and enzyme activity [21].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 78%

Possible Molecular Mechanisms Underlying the Decrease in the Antibacterial Activity of Protamine-like Proteins after Exposure of Mytilus galloprovincialis to Chromium and Mercury

Marinaro

Lettieri

Verrillo

et al. 2023

IJMS

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Natural bioactive compounds represent a new frontier of antimicrobial molecules, and the marine ecosystem represents a new challenge in this regard. In the present work, we evaluated the possibility of changes in the antibacterial activity of protamine-like (PL) proteins, the major nuclear basic protein components of Mytilus galloprovincialis sperm chromatin, after the exposure of mussels to subtoxic doses of chromium (VI) (1, 10, and 100 nM) and mercury (1, 10, and 100 pM) HgCl2, since these metals affect some properties of PL. After exposure, we analyzed the electrophoretic pattern of PLs by both acetic acid-urea polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (AU-PAGE) and SDS-PAGE and determined the MIC and MBC of these proteins on different gram+ and gram– bacteria. PLs, particularly after mussels were exposed to the highest doses of chromium and mercury, showed significantly reduced antibacterial activity. Just at the highest doses of exposure to the two metals, changes were found in the electrophoretic pattern of PLs, suggesting that there were conformational changes in these proteins, which were confirmed by the fluorescence measurements of PLs. These results provide the first evidence of a reduction in the antibacterial activity of these proteins following the exposure of mussels to these metals. Based on the results, hypothetical molecular mechanisms that could explain the decrease in the antibacterial activity of PLs are discussed.

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“…For this reason, in the present work, we continue to explore the metabolomic pattern in M. galloprovincialis in a non-filtering tissue, in particular, the gonadal tissue after exposure to the same heavy metals and their mixture tested in the previous work [20]. The concentrations used for the study were cadmium 1.5 µM, copper 15 µM, and nickel 15 µM, because they were tested in our previous investigations and showed the most noticeable effects on the M. galloprovincialis reproductive system by other experimental approaches [21,22]. All doses are subtoxic.…”

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A Metabolomic Analysis to Assess the Responses of the Male Gonads of Mytilus galloprovincialis after Heavy Metal Exposure

Lettieri,

Marinaro,

Brogna

et al. 2023

Metabolites

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In recent years, metabolomics has become a valuable new resource in environmental monitoring programs based on the use of bio-indicators such as Mytilus galloprovincialis. The reproductive system is extremely susceptible to the effects of environmental pollutants, and in a previous paper, we showed metabolomic alterations in mussel spermatozoa exposed to metal chlorides of copper, nickel, and cadmium, and the mixture with these metals. In order to obtain a better overview, in the present work, we evaluated the metabolic changes in the male gonad under the same experimental conditions used in the previous work, using a metabolomic approach based on GC-MS analysis. A total of 248 endogenous metabolites were identified in the male gonads of mussels. Statistical analyses of the data, including partial least squares discriminant analysis, enabled the identification of key metabolites through the use of variable importance in projection scores. Furthermore, a metabolite enrichment analysis revealed complex and significant interactions within different metabolic pathways and between different metabolites. Particularly significant were the results on pyruvate metabolism, glycolysis, and gluconeogenesis, and glyoxylate and dicarboxylate metabolism, which highlighted the complex and interconnected nature of these biochemical processes in mussel gonads. Overall, these results add new information to the understanding of how certain pollutants may affect specific physiological functions of mussel gonads.

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A Molecular Mechanism to Explain the Nickel-Induced Changes in Protamine-like Proteins and Their DNA Binding Affecting Sperm Chromatin in Mytilus galloprovincialis: An In Vitro Study

Cited by 12 publications

References 72 publications

Impact of Heavy Metal Exposure on Mytilus galloprovincialis Spermatozoa: A Metabolomic Investigation

Impact of Heavy Metal Exposure on Mytilus galloprovincialis Spermatozoa: A Metabolomic Investigation

Possible Molecular Mechanisms Underlying the Decrease in the Antibacterial Activity of Protamine-like Proteins after Exposure of Mytilus galloprovincialis to Chromium and Mercury

A Metabolomic Analysis to Assess the Responses of the Male Gonads of Mytilus galloprovincialis after Heavy Metal Exposure

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