Elucidation of physiological and functional aspects of proteins associated with mercury in pirarucu (Arapaima gigas)

• Grant number: 17/09466-3
• Support type: Scholarships in Brazil - Master
• Effective date (Start): July 01, 2017
• Effective date (End): June 30, 2019
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Fishery Resources and Fishery Engineering - Inland Water Fishery Resources
• Cooperation agreement: Coordination of Improvement of Higher Education Personnel (CAPES)
• Principal researcher: Pedro de Magalhães Padilha
• Grantee: Izabela da Cunha Bataglioli
• Home Institution: Instituto de Biociências (IBB). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Botucatu. Botucatu , SP, Brazil

Abstract

In the last decades, high mercury concentrations have been found in soils, sediments, fish and humans in the Amazon. However, studies evaluating mercury toxicity mechanisms at the cellular level in fish and riverine populations are scarce. However, evaluating potential biomarkers related toxicity by mapping the expression of proteins associated with mercury may indicate fish contamination levels and subsequent human exposure. In this context, a metalloproteomic approach, a relatively new field, can be used to identify biomarkers associated with mercury proteins, thus contributing to the elucidation of physiological and functional aspects of mercury transport in the biota. Recent metalloproteomic studies of fish in the Amazon region, developed by researchers from UNESP Botucatu, allowed fractionation and characterisation of mercury-associated proteins which show biomarker characteristics. However, the physiological and functional aspects of these proteins associated with mercury in Amazonian fish and the adaptation mechanisms presented by these animals in relation to exposure to the metal have not yet been elucidated. The aim of this work is develop and validate analytical methods to advance the knowledge of protein/enzymatic biomarkers of mercury contamination in samples of plasma, muscle and hepatic tissues of fish collected in areas near the reservoir of the JIRAU Hydroelectric Power Plant - Madeira River using the following metalloproteomic strategies: proteome fractionation of samples by 2D PAGE; mercury mapping in protein spots by GFAAS; characterization of proteins associated with mercury by ESI-MS-MS and bioinformatic procedures that may contribute to the knowledge of these proteins in physiological and functional levels, of the metabolic pathways and protein-protein interactions. (AU)

Scientific publications

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

BATAGLIOLI, IZABELA DA CUNHA; SOUZA VIEIRA, JOSE CAVALCANTE; DE QUEIROZ, JOAO VITOR; FERNANDES, MILENI DA SILVA; BITTARELLO, ALIS CORREIA; BRAGA, CAMILA PEREIRA; RABELO BUZALAF, MARILIA AFONSO; ADAMEC, JIRI; ZARA, LUIZ FABRICIO; PADILHA, PEDRO DE MAGALHAES. Physiological and functional aspects of metal -binding protein associated with mercury in the liver tissue of pirarucu (Arapaima gigas) from the Brazilian Amazon. Chemosphere, v. 236, DEC 2019. Web of Science Citations: 1.

Academic Publications

(References retrieved automatically from State of São Paulo Research Institutions)

BATAGLIOLI, Izabela da Cunha. Elucidação de aspectos fisiológicos e funcionais de proteínas associadas ao mercúrio em pirarucu (Arapaima gigas). 2019. Master's Dissertation - Universidade Estadual Paulista "Júlio de Mesquita Filho" Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia..