Metalloproteomic approach of rats renal tissue exposed to mercury: identification of possible biomarkers

Abstract

The bioaccumulation process of mercurial species can trigger oxidative stress processes in animal and human organisms, due to the production of reactive oxygen species or free radicals, which have different diffusion and reactivity power. The diffusion of free radicals can cause lipid peroxidation and protein oxidation, causing damage to the structure of biological membranes and oxidative damage to DNA. In Brazil, most studies of mercury contamination are focused on freshwater environments, particularly in the Amazon region, and focus on mercury quantification in water, sediments, and/or fish tissue. Studies of the effects of mercury-related protein biomarkers in living organisms are still few. In this context, metalloproteins, a recent research line, allows the identification of metallic ions and/or metalloids that are complexed to proteins and/or enzymes, which can significantly contribute to studies related to the identification of mercurial species associated with proteomes of humans and/or animals, as well as in the identification of possible biomarkers of exposure to mercurial species. Based on the above, the general objective of the work proposal will be to identify protein spots associated with mercury using metalloproteomic tools in renal tissue samples from rats exposed to different concentrations of mercury chloride.(AU)