The explosive trinitrotoluene (TNT) induces gene expression of carbonyl reductase in the blue mussel (Mytilus spp.): a new promising biomarker for sea dumped war relicts?

• DOI: 10.1007/s00204-020-02931-y
• Publication Date: 2020-10-22T18:03:07Z
• Authors: Jennifer S. Strehse; Matthias Brenner; Michael Kisiela; Edmund Maser
• Keywords: Trinitrotoluene

Abstract Millions of tons all kind munitions, including mines, bombs and torpedoes have been dumped after World War II in the marine environment do now pose a new threat to seas worldwide. Beside acute risk unwanted detonation, there is chronic contamination, because metal vessels corrode toxic carcinogenic explosives (trinitrotoluene (TNT) metabolites) leak into environment. While mechanism toxicity carcinogenicity TNT its derivatives occurs through capability inducing oxidative stress target biota, we had idea if can induce gene expression carbonyl reductase blue mussels. Carbonyl reductases are members short-chain dehydrogenase/reductase (SDR) superfamily. They metabolize xenobiotics bearing functions, but also endogenous signal molecules such as steroid hormones, prostaglandins, biogenic amines, well sugar lipid peroxidation derived reactive carbonyls, latter providing defence against oxygen species (ROS). Here, identified cloned coding for from mussel Mytilus spp. by bioinformatics approach. In both laboratory field studies, could show that induces strong concentration-dependent induction mussel. may thus serve biomarker exposure on molecular level which useful detect contaminations perform assessment ecosphere human seafood consumer.