Induced gene expression in oyster Crassostrea gigas exposed to sewage

Igor D Medeiros; Marília N Siebert; Guilherme Toledo-Silva; Thiago B Rodrigues; Maria R F Marques; Afonso C D Bainy

doi:10.1016/j.etap.2008.05.004

Induced gene expression in oyster Crassostrea gigas exposed to sewage

Environ Toxicol Pharmacol. 2008 Nov;26(3):362-5. doi: 10.1016/j.etap.2008.05.004. Epub 2008 Jun 3.

Authors

Igor D Medeiros¹, Marília N Siebert, Guilherme Toledo-Silva, Thiago B Rodrigues, Maria R F Marques, Afonso C D Bainy

Affiliation

¹ Laboratório de Biomarcadores de Contaminação Aquática e Imunoquímica, Depto. Bioquímica, CCB, UFSC, Campus Trindade, 88040-900 Florianópolis, SC, Brazil; Laboratório de Ciências Marinhas, UNISUL, Av. Colombo Sales 89, 88790-000 Laguna, SC, Brazil.

PMID: 21791389
DOI: 10.1016/j.etap.2008.05.004

Abstract

Pacific oysters, Crassostrea gigas, were exposed to untreated sewage diluted in seawater. After 48h of exposure, the expression of genes associated to biotransformation pathways (CYP356A1, GSTO, MDR, FABP and ALAS) were analyzed in gills through semi-quantitative RT-PCR. A significant induction in all genes analyzed in the sewage-exposed oysters was observed. These genes are related to phase I (CYP356A1), phase II (GSTO) and phase III (MDR) biotransformation systems, to the uptake and transport of hydrophobic ligands (FABP) and to the synthesis of prosthetic group heme (ALAS). The organisms were able to survive in contaminated conditions since protective mechanisms have been properly stimulated.