Percorrer por autor "Mendes, Vera M."
A mostrar 1 - 2 de 2
Resultados por página
Opções de ordenação
- Effects of microplastics alone and with adsorbed benzo(a)pyrene on the gills proteome of Scrobicularia planaPublication . Bebianno, Maria; Mendes, Vera M.; O'Donovan, Sarit; Carteny, Camila C.; Keiter, Stephen; Manadas, BrunoMicroplastics (MPs) are globally present in the marine environment, but the biological effects on marine organisms at the molecular and cellular levels remain scarce. Due to their lipophilic nature, MPs can adsorb other contaminants present in the marine environment, which may increase their detrimental effects once ingested by organisms. This study investigates the effects of low-density polyethylene (PE) MPs with and without adsorbed benzo[a]pyrene in the gills proteome of the peppery furrow shell clam, Scrobicularia. plana. Clams were exposed to PE MPs (11-13 µm; 1 mg L-1) for 14 days. BaP was analyzed in whole clams’ soft tissues, and a proteomic approach was changes, oxidative stress fatty acid, DNA binding and, neurotransmission highlighting the potential risk of this type of MPs for the clam health. Conversely, when clam gills were exposed to MPs adsorbed with BaP a higher differentiation of protein expression was observed that besides changes in cytoskeleton and cell structure, oxidative stress, energy metabolism and DNA binding also induce changes in glucose metabolism, RNA binding and apoptosis. These results indicate that the presence of both stressors (MPs and BaP) havea higher toxicological risk to the health of S. plana.
- Gender differences in protein expression after polystyrene nanoplastics exposure in mussels mytilus galloprovincialisPublication . Ribeiro Gonçalves, Joanna Melissa; Mendes, Vera M.; Manadas, Bruno; Bebianno, MariaPlastic pollution is a significant issue that the scientific community has been actively studying due to its harmful effects on aquatic ecosystems. Nanoplastics can pass through cellular barriers and enter the mussel’s bloodstream. More worryingly, they can also penetrate sperm cells and oocytes, potentially impacting their motility and resilience. Reproductive success drives a shift in population dynamics and plays a vital role in maintaining a healthy ecosystem. Proteomics helps detect protein changes caused by exposure to contaminants, such as nanoplastics, in marine organisms, providing deeper molecular-level insights into contamination-induced cellular pathways. Therefore, this study aimed to utilise a high-throughput proteomic approach to evaluate the impact of polystyrene nanoplastics (PS-NPs) on the gonads of male and female M. galloprovincialis, using a SWATH-MS analysis after 21 days of exposure to 10 μg/L of PS-NPs (50 nm). The accumulation of PS-NPs was also evaluated in male and female mussels. A comparison in protein expression of controls vs. those exposed in male and female mussel gonads and between males and females was evaluated. The findings indicate that PS-NP accumulation in male gonads alters protein expression more significantly than in females, interfering with protein synthesis, energy production, intracellular transport, and cellular homeostasis, and possibly impaired reproductive function. Female gonads exposed to PS-NPs revealed disruption in proteins associated with translation, RNA processing and signaling, ribosome biogenesis, cell cycle regulation, and stress response. Protein folding, lipid metabolism, and calcium signaling pathways were also affected, leading to oogenesis, meiotic progression, intracellular transport, and energy metabolism impairments. These disruptions ultimately impact reproductive success and cellular homeostasis, leading to a decline in biodiversity.