Document Type

Article

Publication Date

2022

Identifier

DOI: 10.3390/antiox11010093

Abstract

Typical 2-Cys peroxiredoxins (2-Cys Prdxs) are proteins with antioxidant properties belonging to the thioredoxin peroxidase family. With their peroxidase activity, they contribute to the homeostatic control of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and, therefore, participate in various physiological functions, such as cell proliferation, differentiation, and apoptosis. Although Prdxs have been shown to be potential biomarkers for monitoring aquatic environments, minimal scientific attention has been devoted to describing their molecular architecture and function in marine invertebrates. Our study aims to clarify the protective role against stress induced by exposure to metals (Cu, Zn, and Cd) of three Prdxs (Prdx2, Prdx3, and Prdx4) in the solitary ascidian Ciona robusta, an invertebrate chordate. Here, we report a detailed pre- and post-translational regulation of the three Prdx isoforms. Data on intestinal mRNA expression, provided by qRT-PCR analyses, show a generalized increase for Prdx2, -3, and -4, which is correlated to metal accumulation. Furthermore, the increase in tissue enzyme activity observed after Zn exposure is slower than that observed with Cu and Cd. The obtained results increase our knowledge of the evolution of anti-stress proteins in invertebrates and emphasize the importance of the synthesis of Prdxs as an efficient way to face adverse environmental conditions.

Journal Title

Antioxidants

Volume

11

Issue

1

First Page

93

Keywords

Ciona robusta; tunicate; metals; typical 2-Cys peroxiredoxins; antioxidant enzymes

Comments

This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Publisher's Link: https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3921/11/1/93

Download

Share

COinS