Profiling transcriptomic response of Enchytraeus albidus to Cu and Ni: Comparison with Cd and Zn

• Published in: Environmental pollution (1987) 2014-03, Vol.186, p.75-82
• Main Authors: Gomes, Susana I.L., Scott-Fordsmand, Janeck J., Amorim, Mónica J.B.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animal, plant and microbial ecology; Animals; Applied ecology; Biological and medical sciences; Cadmium; Cadmium - toxicity; Cluster Analysis; Copper; Copper - toxicity; Ecotoxicology; Ecotoxicology, biological effects of pollution; Effects of pollution and side effects of pesticides on protozoa and invertebrates; Enchytraeus albidus; Europe; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Gene expression; Heavy metals; Metals - toxicity; Microarray; Nickel; Nickel - toxicity; Oligochaeta - genetics; Oligochaeta - physiology; Reproduction; Separation; Soil - chemistry; Soil Pollutants - toxicity; Soils; Toxicity; Zinc; Zinc - toxicity
• ISSN: 0269-7491; 1873-6424
• DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2013.11.031

Metals are among the most common contaminants in soils in Europe. Although their effects are relatively well known regarding survival and reproduction to soil invertebrates, their mode of action is poorly understood. Enchytraeus albidus is a model organism in ecotoxicology and with the development of a gene library for this species, transcriptomic studies are now possible. The main aim of this study is to understand the Cu and Ni mechanisms of response in E. albidus, in comparison with Cd and Zn (already studied). E. albidus were exposed to Cu and Ni for 4 days to the reproduction effect concentrations EC50 and EC90. Results indicate that Cu and Ni have similar mechanisms of toxicity. When comparing four elements (hierarchical clustering) it was possible to observe a clear separation of Cd from all other metals. This separation correlates with the available information from other species regarding the toxicokinetics of the tested elements. •E. albidus was exposed to the reproduction EC50 and EC90 of Zn, Cu, Ni, Cd.•Genes responding to Cu and Ni were mainly oxidative stress related.•Comparison between Zn, Cu, Ni and Cd gene expression discriminates mainly Cd.•Cd dissimilarity could be due to differing internal regulation and toxicokinetics. E. albidus gene mechanisms to Cu and Ni exposure: comparison to Cd and Zn.