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Parvalbumin and Ubiquitin as Potential Biomarkers of Mercury Contamination of Amazonian Brazilian Fish

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Abstract

Recent studies have demonstrated the association of mercury (Hg) with some fish proteins, milk, and hair from individuals exposed to the element in the Amazon. However, few studies involve identifying biomarkers of mercury exposure. Therefore, the present study aimed to identify potential biomarkers of Hg exposure in fish. For this, the muscular tissues of two species of fish (Prochilodus lineatus and Mylossoma duriventre) that feed the Amazonian human population were analyzed. Through the analyses obtained by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry (GFAAS), it was possible to identify four protein SPOTS where mercury was present. These SPOTS, identified by mass spectrometry (ESI-MS/MS), included parvalbumin and ubiquitin-40S ribosomal protein S27a, and these being metalloproteins with biomarker characteristics. In addition, the results show the intense Hg/protein ratio observed in the two proteins, which makes metalloproteins strong candidates for biomarkers of mercury exposure.

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Funding

The authors thank the Brazilian Research Funding Agencies (FAPESP) (processes 2013/21297-1 and 2014/02668-1), the Coordination of Improvement of Higher Level Personnel (Capes), and the National Electric Energy Agency (ANEEL).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. São Paulo State University (UNESP), Institute of Biosciences, Botucatu, Brazil

    José Cavalcante Souza Vieira, Grasieli de Oliveira & Pedro de Magalhães Padilha

  2. Federal University of Mato Grosso do Sul (UFMS), Campo Grande, Brazil

    José Cavalcante Souza Vieira & Lincoln Carlos Silva de Oliveira

  3. Biochemistry Department, University of Nebraska, Lincoln, NE, USA

    Camila Pereira Braga

  4. University of São Paulo, (USP), Bauru, Brazil

    Mileni da Silva Fernandes & Marília Afonso Rabelo Buzalaf

  5. Local Development, Dom Bosco Catholic University (UCDB), Campo Grande, Brazil

    Paula Martin de Moraes

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  1. José Cavalcante Souza Vieira
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Correspondence to José Cavalcante Souza Vieira.

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All the work involved with animal experimentation developed in this paper was approved by the Ethics Committee on the Use of Animals (CEUA) of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Zootechnics (FMVZ) of the São Paulo State University (UNESP), School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, Botucatu, Brazil under the number of protocol 110/2015.

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Vieira, J.C.S., de Oliveira, G., Braga, C.P. et al. Parvalbumin and Ubiquitin as Potential Biomarkers of Mercury Contamination of Amazonian Brazilian Fish. Biol Trace Elem Res 197, 667–675 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12011-020-02026-w

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