Proteomics in free‐living Mus spretus to monitor terrestrial ecosystems

Abstract

We evaluated the suitability of high-throughput proteomic methods to monitor terrestrial ecosystems. Free-living Mus spretus from three sites along the "Domingo Rubio" (DR) stream were compared with mice from Doñana Biological Reserve ("Santa Olalla" lagoon (SOL) negative control), using specimens from an industrial settlement (phosphogypsum stacks (PS)) and rice fields ("Matochal" rice fields (ARZ)) as positive controls. Our 2-DE analysis showed 36 spots with significantly altered expression. Sixteen were identified by MALDI-TOF-PMF and peptide matching with Mus musculus databases. Identified proteins play different roles: cytoskeletal dynamics, proteolysis, biotransformation, oxidative-stress adaptation, and metabolism. Animals from different polluted environments showed contrasting differences in their proteomes, with specific increases and decreases in selected groups of proteins that seem to be co-ordinately regulated. Proteomic data were consistent with metal biomonitoring and conventional biomarker responses, indicating that DR (and PS/ARZ) animals sustained a heavier pollutant burden than SOL specimens and suffered a chronic oxidative stress. Whereas some protein expression differences may protect mice from pollutant toxicity, others should make them more susceptible. Transcript expression signatures agree with the documented lack of correlation between mRNA and protein levels. Nonetheless, a positive significant correlation was found between the gpx1 mRNA molecules and the intensity of one of the two identified GPX1 isospots.

Use of oxidative stress biomarkers in Carcinus maenas to assess littoral zone contamination in Tunisia

“…CAT activity has also shown as a sensitive biomarker in other studies, since Procamba rus clarkii crayfish from polluted areas showed lower activity than the reference animals (Vioque-Fernández et al 2009). Decreased CAT activity has also been re ported in mice dwelling at sites contaminated by toxic metals (Montes-Nieto et al 2007). It is noteworthy, however, that other investigators have found higher CAT activity in clams and worms from BIZ and from sites near Sfax than at control sites (Jebali et al 2007, Banni et al 2009b, Bouraoui et al 2010.…”

“…It should be emphasized that CAT activity was negatively correlated with all other biomarkers, especially in the case of CAT (dg) and MDA (g) (p < 0.01). Reduced CAT enzymatic activity, along with increased levels of damaged biomolecules (MDA, oxidized glutathione), evidenced by the oxidative lesions promoted by toxic metals, have also been described in crabs and mice from sites contaminated by toxic metals (Huelva Estuary, SW Spain; Montes-Nieto et al 2007, Montes Nieto et al 2010. In contrast, a positive correlation was found between GR (dg), GR (g) and 6PGDH (dg) (p < 0.05), and between GST (g) and MDA (dg) (p < 0.01).…”

New Methodologies for Assessing the Presence and Ecological Effects of Pesticides in Doñana National Park (SW Spain)

“…Hence, the induction of Mup genes and the repression of Inheb and Fgf21 genes might be considered as a coordinated response to drive energy towards the inflammatory process. As a whole, data from the heterologous microarray study in M. spretus, and previous proteomic results ( Montes-Nieto et al, 2007), indicate that DRS mice sustained a heavier pollutant burden than LDP animals and, therefore, suffer a chronic stress situation that elicit and maintain immune and an oxidative stress responses.…”

“…Both enzymes were significantly higher in animals with the highest metal contents. The suitability of high-throughput proteomic methods to monitor terrestrial ecosystems was evaluated in M. spretus from three sites in the DRS and from LDP, using specimens from an industrial settlement (phosphogypsum stacks) and Matochal rice fields as positive controls (Montes-Nieto et al, 2007). The 2-DE analysis showed 36 spots with significantly altered expression.…”

“…The intensive agriculture carried out at adjoining strawberry fields affect the upper DRS course (site 4) and also reach site 3. Previous studies reported that DRS mice accumulate several elements, the metal loads being particularly high in animals from the medium DRS course (Montes-Nieto et al, 2007). The transcriptomes of M. spretus from DRS sites 2, 3 and 4 were studied using heterologous microarrays available for the laboratory mouse, M. musculus, and compared to those of LDP reference mice.…”