Mini-review: toxicity of mercury as a consequence of enzyme alteration

Ynalvez, Ruby A.; Gutiérrez, José Marı́a; Gonzalez-Cantu, Hector

doi:10.1007/s10534-016-9967-8

Cited by 76 publications

(42 citation statements)

References 21 publications

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“…The toxic biological effects of human exposure to these metals are extremely numerous. Among the molecular mechanisms underlying their toxicity, protein interactions seem to play a key role, possibly leading to structural and functional alterations, thus interfering with important metabolic as well as regulatory cellular function [ 33 , 42 , 43 , 44 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…As far as Hg toxicity is concerned, it is endowed with a high affinity for sulphydryl groups; therefore this metal is able to react with small molecular-weight (MW) thiols, including glutathione (GSH), thus impairing the antioxidant defence system [ 31 , 32 ]. In addition, by reacting with crucial cysteine (Cys) residues, Hg may interact with cellular proteins, thus altering and inhibiting their enzymatic and structural functions and potentially leading to severe dysfunction in cellular activities [ 33 ]. In particular, Hg inhibitory activity on individual glycolytic enzymes, such as hexokinase and phosphofructokinase, has been reported [ 34 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Novel Insights into Mercury Effects on Hemoglobin and Membrane Proteins in Human Erythrocytes

et al. 2020

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Mercury (Hg) is a global environmental pollutant that affects human and ecosystem health. With the aim of exploring the Hg-induced protein modifications, intact human erythrocytes were exposed to HgCl2 (1–60 µM) and cytosolic and membrane proteins were analyzed by SDS-PAGE and AU-PAGE. A spectrofluorimetric assay for quantification of Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) generation was also performed. Hg2+ exposure induces alterations in the electrophoretic profile of cytosolic proteins with a significant decrease in the intensity of the hemoglobin monomer, associated with the appearance of a 64 kDa band, identified as a mercurized tetrameric form. This protein decreases with increasing HgCl2 concentrations and Hg-induced ROS formation. Moreover, it appears resistant to urea denaturation and it is only partially dissociated by exposure to dithiothreitol, likely due to additional protein–Hg interactions involved in aggregate formation. In addition, specific membrane proteins, including band 3 and cytoskeletal proteins 4.1 and 4.2, are affected by Hg2+-treatment. The findings reported provide new insights into the Hg-induced possible detrimental effects on erythrocyte physiology, mainly related to alterations in the oxygen binding capacity of hemoglobin as well as decreases in band 3-mediated anion exchange. Finally, modifications of cytoskeletal proteins 4.1 and 4.2 could contribute to the previously reported alteration in cell morphology.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Novel Insights into Mercury Effects on Hemoglobin and Membrane Proteins in Human Erythrocytes

et al. 2020

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“…Mercury is a high toxic metal with a wide distribution on nature and has been considered as an important health concern [ 1 , 2 ]. Mercury occurs naturally in the environment on organic and inorganic forms, in which methylmercury (MeHg) and mercury chloride (HgCl 2 ) are the most toxic forms, respectively.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Oxidative Biochemistry Disbalance and Changes on Proteomic Profile in Salivary Glands of Rats Induced by Chronic Exposure to Methylmercury

Bittencourt

Puty

Charone

et al. 2017

Oxidative Medicine and Cellular Longevity

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Methylmercury (MeHg) is one of the most toxic mercury species, which can cause many systemic damages, but little is known about its effect in the salivary glands. This study aimed to analyze the mercury levels, oxidative stress, and proteomic profile in parotid, submandibular, and sublingual salivary glands of rats, after chronic MeHg intoxication. Two groups of twenty male Wistar rats (90 days of age) were used on the experiment. MeHg group was intoxicated by intragastric gavage with MeHg at a dose of 0.04 mg/kg/day for 60 days, while the control group received only oil. After the period of intoxication, the glands were collected for evaluation of total mercury levels, proteomic profile, and oxidative balance by analyzing the antioxidant capacity against peroxyl radicals (ACAP), lipid peroxidation (LPO), and nitrite levels. Our results have showed that mercury levels were significant in all three glands compared to the respective control. It also showed lower levels of ACAP, as well as higher LPO and nitrite levels. The proteomic profile presented impairments on structural components of cytoskeleton, metabolic pathways, and oxidative biochemistry. Thus, the exposure to MeHg was able to generate oxidative stress that could be associated with changes in the proteomic profile of salivary glands.

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“…Mercury's high affi nity for the sulfhydryl moieties of enzyme catalytic sites is a common motif for enzyme inactivation. These permanent covalent modifi cations inactivate the enzyme, thereby inducing devastating effects on an organism's metabolic functions [21]. There are many suggestions for the mechanisms that caused such inhibitory effects.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Investigation of physiological responses of Procambarus clarkii and some enzyme activities to selected heavy metals

Ab¹,

Abbas²,

Hussein³

et al. 2019

Open J Environ Biol

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Mean enzyme activities of Aspartate Transaminase (ALT), Aka Alanine Transaminase (AST) and alkaline phosphatases of the digestive gland of freshwater Procambarus clarkia were subjected to different sublethal concentrations of lead, mercury and cadmium were measured. The results obtained showed that the investigated enzymes were affected by the sublethal concentrations of the heavy metals. The mean activity values of ALT, AST and Alkaline phosphatase decreased under all heavy metals. Mercury showed the highest effect followed by cadmium and lead. On the other hand, the mean activity values of acid phosphatase increased with the increase in heavy metals concentrations. Lead gave the highest effect followed by mercury and cadmium. There is a linear relationship between the sublethal concentrations and the decrease or increase of the mean activity values of the enzymes measured. The ALT, AST and alkaline phosphatase would be used as biomarkers for Hg pollution whereas acid phosphatase would be used as an indicator for Pd pollution in the presence for other heavy metals.

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Mini-review: toxicity of mercury as a consequence of enzyme alteration

Cited by 76 publications

References 21 publications

Novel Insights into Mercury Effects on Hemoglobin and Membrane Proteins in Human Erythrocytes

Novel Insights into Mercury Effects on Hemoglobin and Membrane Proteins in Human Erythrocytes

Oxidative Biochemistry Disbalance and Changes on Proteomic Profile in Salivary Glands of Rats Induced by Chronic Exposure to Methylmercury

Investigation of physiological responses of Procambarus clarkii and some enzyme activities to selected heavy metals

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