Metals in Marine Biochemistry
This editorial introduces the Metallomics themed issue Metals in Marine Biochemistry, guest edited by Rachel Austin and Mak Saito.
Perspective: what is known, and not known, about the connections between alkane oxidation and metal uptake in alkanotrophs in the marine environment
Highlighting what is known and not known about the co-regulation of metal acquisition and alkane oxidation in the marine environment.
Heme in the marine environment: from cells to the iron cycle
Heme is an essential enzyme cofactor in marine microbes as well as a dynamic and quantitatively significant component of the marine iron cycle.
Roles for root iron plaque in sequestration and uptake of heavy metals and metalloids in aquatic and wetland plants
Toxic metal(loid) contamination of soil and sediment poses long term risk to soil and human health through plant–human or plant–animal–human food chain pathways.
A little bit of light goes a long way: the role of phototrophs on mercury cycling
Phototrophs are key ecological players of aquatic ecosystems and yet their role on Hg cycling has been overlooked so far.
Dose and chemical species-specific effects of selenium against arsenite toxicity in cultured hepatocytes of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss)
Inorganic (selenite) and organic (selenomethionine) forms of selenium ameliorate arsenite induced cytotoxicity via different pathways in a dose dependent manner.
In vivo identification of potential uranium protein targets in zebrafish ovaries after chronic waterborne exposure
To better understand uranium reprotoxicity mechanisms in zebrafish, potential protein targets likely to complex uranium in ovaries were identified and found to be involved in biological processes such as oxidation balance, cell and tissue structure and embryo early development.
Trace element–protein interactions in endolymph from the inner ear of fish: implications for environmental reconstructions using fish otolith chemistry
SEC-ICP-MS of endolymph reveals element partitioning between protein and salt phases, with implications for ecological applications of fish otolith chemistry.
Energy cost of intracellular metal and metalloid detoxification in wild-type eukaryotic phytoplankton
Microalgae use various cellular mechanisms to detoxify both non-essential and excess essential metals or metalloids.
Paper
Surface binding, localization and storage of iron in the giant kelp Macrocystis pyrifera
Iron binding to the cell surface of marine macroalgae, such as the giant kelp Macrocystis pyrifera, through alginate carboxylate groups may have biological significance as an iron storage mechanism.
Paper
Boron uptake, localization, and speciation in marine brown algae
Boron uptake, speciation, localization and possible biological function is studied in two species of brown algae, Macrocystis pyrifera and Ectocarpus siliculosus.
Mercury-mediated cross-resistance to tellurite in Pseudomonas spp. isolated from the Chilean Antarctic territory
Mercury salts and tellurite are among the most toxic compounds for microorganisms on Earth.
Unravelling the mechanisms of mercury hepatotoxicity in wild fish (Liza aurata) through a triad approach: bioaccumulation, metabolomic profiles and oxidative stress
Mercury hepatotoxicity was investigated in wild fish (Liza aurata) through assessment of metabolomic shifts, antioxidant system and Hg bioaccumulation.
Arsenic(+3) and DNA methyltransferases, and arsenic speciation in tadpole and frog life stages of western clawed frogs (Silurana tropicalis) exposed to arsenate
Silurana tropicalis tadpoles and frogs exposed to arsenate exhibit changes in levels of methylating enzymes DNMT1 and AS3MT, and methylate arsenic to trimethylarsine oxide and tetramethylarsonium.
Elemental mapping inventory of the fish Liza aurata brain: a biomarker of metal pollution vulnerability
Elemental mapping of fish brain exposed to metal pollution revealed altered elemental concentrations that highlight homeostasis modification, altered permeability of the blood–brain barrier and risk for neurological toxicity and behaviour impairments.
Bioinformatics survey of the metal usage by psychrophilic yeast Glaciozyma antarctica PI12
The psychrophilic metallome of Glaciozyma antarctica PI12 predicted by bioinformatic approaches.
Uptake mechanisms for inorganic iron and ferric citrate in Trichodesmium erythraeum IMS101
Trichodesmium erythraeum IMS101 utilizes two different iron uptake systems to acquire iron from FeCl3 and ferric citrate, potentially allowing Trichodesmium to have a competitive advantage in its bacteria-rich colony environment.
Imaging of intracellular metal partitioning in marine diatoms exposed to metal pollution: consequences to cellular toxicity and metal fate in the environment
Metals induced changes in cell morphology. Metal partitioning showed Cu susceptibility and biomagnification potential, and Ni and Zn detoxification. Frustule accumulation implies Fe and Zn sedimentation.
Paper
Identification of major zinc-binding proteins from a marine cyanobacterium: insight into metal uptake in oligotrophic environments
The open ocean cyanobacterium Synechococcus sp. WH8102 thrives at extremely low zinc concentrations. Metalloproteomics experiments have identified an outer-membrane bound porin with zinc-binding ability that is upregulated at low zinc levels, suggesting a role for porins in highly efficient zinc uptake.
Distributions of iron, phosphorus and sulfur along trichomes of the cyanobacteria Trichodesmium
Changes in the elemental composition within trichomes of the nonheterocystous cyanobacteria Trichodesmium are potentially related to N2-fixation.
The structure of ferricytochrome c552 from the psychrophilic marine bacterium Colwellia psychrerythraea 34H
The molecular structure of the electron-transfer protein cytochrome c552 from a cold-adapted, hydrocarbon-degrading marine bacterium is reported (PDB: 4O1W).
Evaluation of photo-reactive siderophore producing bacteria before, during and after a bloom of the dinoflagellate Lingulodinium polyedrum
Evidence is increasing for a mutualistic relationship between phytoplankton and heterotrophic marine bacteria.
Amphiphilic siderophore production by oil-associating microbes
Amphibactin siderophores have been isolated from oil-associated Vibrio spp. following the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, and from Alcanivorax borkumensis SK2.
Stabilities of thiomolybdate complexes of iron; implications for retention of essential trace elements (Fe, Cu, Mo) in sulfidic waters
The first stability constant measurements for aqueous Fe–Mo–S complexes enable assessment of the complexes' role in ancient and modern sulfidic seas.
Correction
Correction: Surface binding, localization and storage of iron in the giant kelp Macrocystis pyrifera
About this collection
This collection of papers brings together recent activities in marine biochemistry. This list was initially composed of articles published in a themed issue of Metallomics (6, 2014, guest edited by Rachel Austin) that highlighted emerging high-impact areas of research on metals in marine biochemistry. Since then, this collection has expanded and will continue to grow to include additional reports in this field, covering various aspects of this important area of metal biology. New articles will be added to this collection as they are published.