Metabolomics-based study reveals the effect of lead (Pb) in the culture environment on Whitmania pigra

Abstract

Whitmania pigra, called Mahuang (MH) in Chinese, has been used as a traditional Chinese medicine for many years and is susceptible to Pb exposure in aquaculture environments. To understand the impact of Pb in the culture environment on MHs, we carried out a 50-day culture of MHs in environments with different levels of Pb pollution. Then, tissue samples of MHs reared in the different Pb-polluted environments were collected and analysed by UPLC-Q/TOF-MS. The results showed that the Pb residue in MHs increased with increasing Pb in the culture environment. There was no significant difference in MH Pb content (P < 0.05) between the low-Pb residue group (PbL) and the blank control group (BC), and those of the middle-Pb residue group (PbM) and the high-Pb residue group (PbH) were significantly different from that of the BC group. Metabolomics results showed significant changes in 24 metabolites in the PbL, PbM and PbH groups, some of which were dose-dependent. These metabolites were mainly lipids, nucleotides, and dipeptides, which are involved in metabolic pathways such as glycerophospholipid metabolism, sphingolipid metabolism, and nucleotide metabolism. Overall, the results proved that metabolomics can be an effective tool to understand the effects of Pb on the metabolic responses of MHs.

Transcriptomics, proteomics, and metabolomics interventions prompt crop improvement against metal(loid) toxicity

“…Major amino acids (glutamic acid, argininosuccinic acid, threonic acid, pyroglutamic acid, and lysine) induced by As toxicity were also identified, potentially providing insights for reprogramming metabolites to induce tolerance against metal(loid)s (Nguyen et al 2022 ). Metabolite fingerprinting revealed substantial alterations in 24 metabolites in medicinal leech ( Whitmania pigra ) exposed to varying levels of Pb stress, some of which were dose-dependent (Luo et al 2020 ). These metabolites included lipids, nucleotides, and dipeptides involved in metabolic pathways such as glycerophospholipid metabolism, sphingolipid metabolism, and nucleotide metabolism (Luo et al 2020 ).…”

“…Metabolite fingerprinting revealed substantial alterations in 24 metabolites in medicinal leech ( Whitmania pigra ) exposed to varying levels of Pb stress, some of which were dose-dependent (Luo et al 2020 ). These metabolites included lipids, nucleotides, and dipeptides involved in metabolic pathways such as glycerophospholipid metabolism, sphingolipid metabolism, and nucleotide metabolism (Luo et al 2020 ).…”

Applications of Metabolomics for the Elucidation of Abiotic Stress Tolerance in Plants: A Special Focus on Osmotic Stress and Heavy Metal Toxicity

“…Assessing such effects and the counter mechanisms of plants would help devise predictive measures to improve plant tolerance against HM toxicity. Luo et al [ 85 ] collected Whitmania pigra , called Mahuang (MH), exposed to Pb for analysis on an ultra-performance quadrupole time-of-flight MS (UPLC-Q/TOF-MS). Metabolomics results showed significant changes in 24 metabolites from the Chinese medicinal plants responding to Pd exposure.…”