Journal ArticleDOI
Molecular Biomarkers: Their significance and application in marine pollution monitoring
TLDR
An overview of the significance of the use of molecular biomarkers as diagnostic and prognostic tools for marine pollution monitoring is presented.Abstract:
This paper presents an overview of the significance of the use of molecular biomarkers as diagnostic and prognostic tools for marine pollution monitoring. In order to assess the impact of highly persistent pollutants such as polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB), polychlorinated dibenzo–dioxins (PCDD), polychlorinated dibenzo–furans (PCDF), polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH), tributyltin (TBT) and other toxic metals on the marine ecosystem a suite of biomarkers are being extensively used worldwide. Among the various types of biomarkers, the following have received special attention: cytochrome P4501A induction, DNA integrity, acetylcholinesterase activity and metallothionein induction. These biomarkers are being used to evaluate exposure of various species of sentinel marine organisms (e.g. mussels, clams, oysters, snails, fishes, etc.) to and the effect of various contaminants (organic xenobiotics and metals) using different molecular approaches [biochemical assays, enzyme linked immuno-sorbent assays (ELISA), spectrophotometric, fluorometric measurement, differential pulsed polarography, liquid chromatography, atomic absorption spectrometry]. The induction of the biotransformation enzyme, cytochrome P4501A in fishes (Callionymus lyra, Limanda limanda, Serranus sp., Mullus barbatus) and mussels (Dreissena polymorpha) by various xenobiotic contaminants such as PCBs, PAHs, PCDs is used as a biomarker of exposure to such organic pollutants. The induction of cytochrome P4501A is involved in chemical carcinogenesis through catalysis of the covalent bonding of organic contaminants to a DNA strand leading to formation of DNA adduct. Measurement of the induction of cytochrome P4501A in terms of EROD (7-ethoxy resorufin O-deethylase) activity is successfully used as a potential biomarker of exposure to xenobiotic contaminants in marine pollution monitoring.read more
Citations
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Journal ArticleDOI
Environmental Proteomics: Changes in the Proteome of Marine Organisms in Response to Environmental Stress, Pollutants, Infection, Symbiosis, and Development
TL;DR: Environmental proteomics, the study of changes in the abundance of proteins and their post-translational modifications, has become a powerful tool for generating hypotheses regarding how the environment affects the biology of marine organisms.
Book ChapterDOI
Applications of Carboxylesterase Activity in Environmental Monitoring and Toxicity Identification Evaluations (TIEs)
Craig E. Wheelock,Bryn M. Phillips,Brian S. Anderson,Jeff L. Miller,Michael J. R. Miller,Bruce D. Hammock +5 more
TL;DR: The use of carboxylesterase activity in TIE protocols appears to have excellent promise, but there are further technical issues that should be addressed to increase the utility of the method.
Journal ArticleDOI
Marine Biocatalysts: Enzymatic Features and Applications
TL;DR: The analysis of literature cited here and the many published patent applications concerning the use of marine enzymes supports the view that these biocatalysts are just waiting to be discovered, reflecting the importance of the marine environment.
Journal Article
The use of cholinesterase and carboxylesterase activities from Mytilus galloprovincialis in pollution monitoring
Estefania Escartín,Cinta Porte +1 more
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors examined the ability of pesticides to inhibit mussel esterases, and found that the highest sensitivity of mussel CbE to low concentrations of pesticides, but also the higher sensitivity of gill cholinesterases over digestive gland forms.
Journal ArticleDOI
The use of fluctuating asymmetry as a measure of environmentally induced developmental instability: A meta-analysis
TL;DR: A meta-analysis of published literature found that FA is a sensitive biomarker of environmental stress and is a legitimate tool particularly when studies verify the biological relevance of stressors for the study organism.
References
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Journal ArticleDOI
The use of biomarkers to assess the impact of pollution in coastal environments of the Iberian Peninsula: a practical approach
Miren P. Cajaraville,Maria João Bebianno,Julián Blasco,Cinta Porte,Carmen Sarasquete,Aldo Viarengo +5 more
TL;DR: A battery of biomarkers of contaminant exposure and effects are proposed that could be incorporated into programmes monitoring the quality of the coastal environment in the Iberian Peninsula and would be undertaken in conjunction with chemical measures of contaminants burdens in selected sentinel species.
BookDOI
Metal metabolism in aquatic environments
TL;DR: In this paper, the interactions between living organisms and metals in intertidal and subtidal sediments are discussed, and the influence of ecological factors on accumulation of metal mixtures.
Book ChapterDOI
Metal handling strategies in molluscs
TL;DR: The concentration and distribution of metals in molluscan tissues, as in any other organism, is highly dependent on the biochemical processes of metal metabolism occurring within cells, and a wide range of behaviour in terms of uptake, detoxification and storage is manifested — the major components of metal bioaccumulation.
Journal ArticleDOI
Integrated use of biomarkers (acetylcholinesterase and antioxidant enzymes activities) in Mytilus galloprovincialis and Mullus barbatus in an Italian coastal marine area
Maria Giulia Lionetto,Roberto Caricato,Maria Elena Giordano,M.F. Pascariello,L. Marinosci,Trifone Schettino +5 more
TL;DR: The field application of the integrated use of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and antioxidant enzymes (catalase--CAT, glutathione peroxidase--GSH-Px), for detecting the possible exposure/effect induced by chemical pollutants in native marine organisms from a coastal marine area that shows a coastline of high environmental value, but under constant urban pressure.
Journal ArticleDOI
Seasonal variability in biomarkers in the bivalves Mytilus edulis and Macoma balthica from the northern Baltic Sea.
Sari Leiniö,Kari K. Lehtonen +1 more
TL;DR: Strong seasonal variability in temperature and a concentrated period of food availability in spring-both governing the reproductive cycle of the bivalves-probably explains most of the observed natural variability in biomarkers in this sea area.