Ulva compressa from Copper-Polluted Sites Exhibits Intracellular Copper Accumulation, Increased Expression of Metallothioneins and Copper-Containing Nanoparticles in Chloroplasts

International Journal of Molecular Sciences

Daniel Laporte¹  Fernanda Rodríguez-Rojas²  Claudio A. Sáez²  Rodrigo Segura³  Jaime Pizarro³  Alberto González⁴  Alejandra Moenne⁴  Daniela Espinoza⁴ 

[1] Laboratorio Multidisciplinario, Instituto de Ciencias Biomédicas, Universidad Autónoma de Chile, Talca 3467987, Chile;Laboratory of Aquatic Environmental Research, Hub Ambiental UPLA, Centro de Estudios Avanzados, Universidad de Playa Ancha, Valparaíso 2340000, Chile;Laboratory of Inorganic Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry and Biology, University of Santiago of Chile, Santiago 9170022, Chile;Laboratory of Marine Biotecnology, Faculty of Chemistry and Biology, University of Santiago of Chile, Santiago 9170022, Chile;

关键词: copper;    glutathione;    marine alga;    metallothionein;    phytochelatins;    Ulva compressa;   

DOI  :  10.3390/ijms221910531

来源: DOAJ

【 摘 要 】

In order to analyze the mechanisms involved in copper accumulation in Ulva compressa, algae were collected at control sites of central and northern Chile, and at two copper-polluted sites of northern Chile. The level of intracellular copper, reduced glutathione (GSH), phytochelatins (PCs), PC2 and PC4, and transcripts encoding metallothioneins (MTs) of U. compressa, UcMT1, UcMT2 and UcMT3, were determined. Algae of control sites contained around 20 $\mathsf{\mu }$g of copper g⁻¹ of dry tissue (DT) whereas algae of copper-polluted sites contained 260 and 272 $\mathsf{\mu }$g of copper g⁻¹ of DT. Algae of control sites and copper-polluted sites did not show detectable amounts of GSH, the level of PC2 did not change among sites whereas PC4 was increased in one of the copper-polluted sites. The level of transcripts of UcMT1 and UcMT2 were increased in algae of copper-polluted sites, but the level of UcMT3 did not change. Algae of a control site and a copper-polluted site were visualized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and the existence of copper in electrodense particles was analyzed using energy dispersive x-ray spectroscopy (EDXS). Algae of copper-polluted sites showed electrodense nanoparticles containing copper in the chloroplasts, whereas algae of control sites did not. Algae of a control site, Cachagua, were cultivated without copper (control) and with 10 $\mathsf{\mu }$M copper for 5 days and they were analyzed by TEM-EDXS. Algae cultivated with copper showed copper-containing nanoparticles in the chloroplast whereas control algae did not. Thus, U. compressa from copper-polluted sites exhibits intracellular copper accumulation, an increase in the level of PC4 and expression of UcMTs, and the accumulation of copper-containing particles in chloroplasts.

【 授权许可】

Unknown