In vivo formation of natural HgSe nanoparticles in the liver and brain of pilot whales

Zuzana Gajdosechova; Mohammed M. Lawan; Dagmar S. Urgast; Andrea Raab; Kirk G. Scheckel; Enzo Lombi; Peter M. Kopittke; Katrin  Loeschner; Erik H. Larsen; Glenn Woods; Andrew Brownlow; Fiona L. Read; Jörg Feldmann; Eva M. Krupp

doi:10.1038/srep34361

In vivo formation of natural HgSe nanoparticles in the liver and brain of pilot whales

Zuzana Gajdosechova, Mohammed M. Lawan, Dagmar S. Urgast, Andrea Raab, Kirk G. Scheckel, Enzo Lombi, Peter M. Kopittke, Katrin Loeschner, Erik H. Larsen, Glenn Woods, Andrew Brownlow, Fiona L. Read, Jörg Feldmann, Eva M. Krupp

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Abstract

To understand the biochemistry of methylmercury (MeHg) that leads to the formation of mercury-selenium (Hg-Se) clusters is a long outstanding challenge that promises to deepen our knowledge of MeHg detoxification and the role Se plays in this process. Here, we show that mercury selenide (HgSe) nanoparticles in the liver and brain of long-finned pilot whales are attached to Se-rich structures and possibly act as a nucleation point for the formation of large Se-Hg clusters, which can grow with age to over 5 μm in size. The detoxification mechanism is fully developed from the early age of the animals, with particulate Hg found already in juvenile tissues. As a consequence of MeHg detoxification, Se-methionine, the selenium pool in the system is depleted in the efforts to maintain essential levels of Se-cysteine. This study provides evidence of so far unreported depletion of the bioavailable Se pool, a plausible driving mechanism of demonstrated neurotoxic effects of MeHg in the organism affected by its high dietary intake

Original language	English
Article number	34361
Number of pages	11
Journal	Scientific Reports
Volume	6
Early online date	28 Sept 2016
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1038/srep34361
Publication status	Published - 28 Sept 2016

Bibliographical note

Acknowledgments Z.G. thanks to the College of Physical Sciences at University of
Aberdeen and Chevron USA for the provided studentship. P.M.K. is the recipient of an Australian Research Council Future Fellowship (FT120100277). Parts of this
research were undertaken on the XFM beamline at the Australian Synchrotron,
Victoria, Australia. The assistance of Daryl Howard (XFM beamline, Australian
Synchrotron) is acknowledged. Although EPA contributed to this article, the research presented was not performed by or funded by EPA and was not subject to EPA's quality system requirements. Consequently, the views, interpretations, and conclusions expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect or represent EPA's views or policies. MRCAT operations are supported by the Department of Energy and the MRCAT member institutions. This research used resources of the Advanced Photon Source, a U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Science User Facility operated for the DOE Office of Science by Argonne National Laboratory under Contract No. DE-AC02-06CH11357. The authors declare no competing financial interests. F.L.R. and A.B. acknowledge Scottish Marine Animal Stranding Scheme and Marine Scotland for funding.
Author Contributions E.M.K and J.F. designed the experiments. Z.G. measured total Hg and conducted Hg speciation. Total Se was determined by A.R. and Z.G. M.M.L. performed Se speciation and 2D imaging by LA-ICP-MS was done by D.S.U. XANES was performed by K.S. and XRF by E.L. and P.M.K. Samples were obtained by E.M.K. through A.B. and age determination was done by F.R. spICP-MS was performed by E.H.L., K.L., G.W. and Z.G. The manuscript was written by Z.G. and all authors discussed the results and commented on the manuscript.

Keywords

biophysical chemistry
environmental chemistry

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In vivo formation of natural HgSe nanoparticles in the liver and brain of pilot whales
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Eva Krupp
- School of Natural & Computing Sciences, Chemistry - Emeritus Reader
Person: Honorary

Cite this

@article{908d7a98513c4fdd86103fb7037cc9ee,

title = "In vivo formation of natural HgSe nanoparticles in the liver and brain of pilot whales",

abstract = "To understand the biochemistry of methylmercury (MeHg) that leads to the formation of mercury-selenium (Hg-Se) clusters is a long outstanding challenge that promises to deepen our knowledge of MeHg detoxification and the role Se plays in this process. Here, we show that mercury selenide (HgSe) nanoparticles in the liver and brain of long-finned pilot whales are attached to Se-rich structures and possibly act as a nucleation point for the formation of large Se-Hg clusters, which can grow with age to over 5 μm in size. The detoxification mechanism is fully developed from the early age of the animals, with particulate Hg found already in juvenile tissues. As a consequence of MeHg detoxification, Se-methionine, the selenium pool in the system is depleted in the efforts to maintain essential levels of Se-cysteine. This study provides evidence of so far unreported depletion of the bioavailable Se pool, a plausible driving mechanism of demonstrated neurotoxic effects of MeHg in the organism affected by its high dietary intake",

keywords = "biophysical chemistry, environmental chemistry",

author = "Zuzana Gajdosechova and Lawan, {Mohammed M.} and Urgast, {Dagmar S.} and Andrea Raab and Scheckel, {Kirk G.} and Enzo Lombi and Kopittke, {Peter M.} and Katrin Loeschner and Larsen, {Erik H.} and Glenn Woods and Andrew Brownlow and Read, {Fiona L.} and J{\"o}rg Feldmann and Krupp, {Eva M.}",

note = "Acknowledgments Z.G. thanks to the College of Physical Sciences at University of Aberdeen and Chevron USA for the provided studentship. P.M.K. is the recipient of an Australian Research Council Future Fellowship (FT120100277). Parts of this research were undertaken on the XFM beamline at the Australian Synchrotron, Victoria, Australia. The assistance of Daryl Howard (XFM beamline, Australian Synchrotron) is acknowledged. Although EPA contributed to this article, the research presented was not performed by or funded by EPA and was not subject to EPA's quality system requirements. Consequently, the views, interpretations, and conclusions expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect or represent EPA's views or policies. MRCAT operations are supported by the Department of Energy and the MRCAT member institutions. This research used resources of the Advanced Photon Source, a U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Science User Facility operated for the DOE Office of Science by Argonne National Laboratory under Contract No. DE-AC02-06CH11357. The authors declare no competing financial interests. F.L.R. and A.B. acknowledge Scottish Marine Animal Stranding Scheme and Marine Scotland for funding. Author Contributions E.M.K and J.F. designed the experiments. Z.G. measured total Hg and conducted Hg speciation. Total Se was determined by A.R. and Z.G. M.M.L. performed Se speciation and 2D imaging by LA-ICP-MS was done by D.S.U. XANES was performed by K.S. and XRF by E.L. and P.M.K. Samples were obtained by E.M.K. through A.B. and age determination was done by F.R. spICP-MS was performed by E.H.L., K.L., G.W. and Z.G. The manuscript was written by Z.G. and all authors discussed the results and commented on the manuscript. ",

year = "2016",

month = sep,

day = "28",

doi = "10.1038/srep34361",

language = "English",

volume = "6",

journal = "Scientific Reports",

issn = "2045-2322",

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TY - JOUR

T1 - In vivo formation of natural HgSe nanoparticles in the liver and brain of pilot whales

AU - Gajdosechova, Zuzana

AU - Lawan, Mohammed M.

AU - Urgast, Dagmar S.

AU - Raab, Andrea

AU - Scheckel, Kirk G.

AU - Lombi, Enzo

AU - Kopittke, Peter M.

AU - Loeschner, Katrin

AU - Larsen, Erik H.

AU - Woods, Glenn

AU - Brownlow, Andrew

AU - Read, Fiona L.

AU - Feldmann, Jörg

AU - Krupp, Eva M.

N1 - Acknowledgments Z.G. thanks to the College of Physical Sciences at University of Aberdeen and Chevron USA for the provided studentship. P.M.K. is the recipient of an Australian Research Council Future Fellowship (FT120100277). Parts of this research were undertaken on the XFM beamline at the Australian Synchrotron, Victoria, Australia. The assistance of Daryl Howard (XFM beamline, Australian Synchrotron) is acknowledged. Although EPA contributed to this article, the research presented was not performed by or funded by EPA and was not subject to EPA's quality system requirements. Consequently, the views, interpretations, and conclusions expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect or represent EPA's views or policies. MRCAT operations are supported by the Department of Energy and the MRCAT member institutions. This research used resources of the Advanced Photon Source, a U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Science User Facility operated for the DOE Office of Science by Argonne National Laboratory under Contract No. DE-AC02-06CH11357. The authors declare no competing financial interests. F.L.R. and A.B. acknowledge Scottish Marine Animal Stranding Scheme and Marine Scotland for funding. Author Contributions E.M.K and J.F. designed the experiments. Z.G. measured total Hg and conducted Hg speciation. Total Se was determined by A.R. and Z.G. M.M.L. performed Se speciation and 2D imaging by LA-ICP-MS was done by D.S.U. XANES was performed by K.S. and XRF by E.L. and P.M.K. Samples were obtained by E.M.K. through A.B. and age determination was done by F.R. spICP-MS was performed by E.H.L., K.L., G.W. and Z.G. The manuscript was written by Z.G. and all authors discussed the results and commented on the manuscript.

PY - 2016/9/28

Y1 - 2016/9/28

N2 - To understand the biochemistry of methylmercury (MeHg) that leads to the formation of mercury-selenium (Hg-Se) clusters is a long outstanding challenge that promises to deepen our knowledge of MeHg detoxification and the role Se plays in this process. Here, we show that mercury selenide (HgSe) nanoparticles in the liver and brain of long-finned pilot whales are attached to Se-rich structures and possibly act as a nucleation point for the formation of large Se-Hg clusters, which can grow with age to over 5 μm in size. The detoxification mechanism is fully developed from the early age of the animals, with particulate Hg found already in juvenile tissues. As a consequence of MeHg detoxification, Se-methionine, the selenium pool in the system is depleted in the efforts to maintain essential levels of Se-cysteine. This study provides evidence of so far unreported depletion of the bioavailable Se pool, a plausible driving mechanism of demonstrated neurotoxic effects of MeHg in the organism affected by its high dietary intake

AB - To understand the biochemistry of methylmercury (MeHg) that leads to the formation of mercury-selenium (Hg-Se) clusters is a long outstanding challenge that promises to deepen our knowledge of MeHg detoxification and the role Se plays in this process. Here, we show that mercury selenide (HgSe) nanoparticles in the liver and brain of long-finned pilot whales are attached to Se-rich structures and possibly act as a nucleation point for the formation of large Se-Hg clusters, which can grow with age to over 5 μm in size. The detoxification mechanism is fully developed from the early age of the animals, with particulate Hg found already in juvenile tissues. As a consequence of MeHg detoxification, Se-methionine, the selenium pool in the system is depleted in the efforts to maintain essential levels of Se-cysteine. This study provides evidence of so far unreported depletion of the bioavailable Se pool, a plausible driving mechanism of demonstrated neurotoxic effects of MeHg in the organism affected by its high dietary intake

KW - biophysical chemistry

KW - environmental chemistry

U2 - 10.1038/srep34361

DO - 10.1038/srep34361

M3 - Article

SN - 2045-2322

VL - 6

JO - Scientific Reports

JF - Scientific Reports

M1 - 34361

ER -

In vivo formation of natural HgSe nanoparticles in the liver and brain of pilot whales

Abstract

Bibliographical note

Keywords

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Eva Krupp

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