N-Acetylcysteine boosts xenobiotic detoxification in shellfish

Area of Science:

• Environmental Science
• Marine Biology
• Toxicology

Background:

• Water pollution poses significant risks to human health, with bivalve mollusks accumulating contaminants from their environment.
• Consumption of contaminated shellfish is a primary cause of seafood poisoning, necessitating effective depuration methods.
• Conventional depuration of 48 hours in sterilized seawater is insufficient for eliminating chemical contaminants from shellfish tissues.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a novel technology to accelerate the excretion rate of xenobiotics in bivalves.
• To investigate the efficacy of N-acetylcysteine (NAC) as a pro-drug to enhance shellfish detoxification.
• To validate the application of NAC in removing both pesticide and biotoxin contaminants from marine bivalves.

Main Methods:

• Treatment of bivalves with N-acetylcysteine (NAC), an antioxidant and glutathione (GSH) pro-drug, during the depuration period.
• Dose-dependent assessment of NAC's effect on the detoxification of the organophosphate pesticide fenitrothion in mussels (Mytilus galloprovincialis).
• Evaluation of NAC's impact on glutathione S-transferase (GST) activity and GSH anabolism in both contaminated and uncontaminated bivalves.
• Validation of the NAC treatment in king scallops (Pecten maximus) for the removal of amnesic shellfish poisoning (ASP) toxin, domoic acid.

Main Results:

• NAC treatment accelerated xenobiotic excretion in bivalves up to fourfold compared to conventional depuration.
• NAC significantly reduced fenitrothion levels in mussels by nearly 100-fold, enhancing GSH anabolism and GST activity.
• The induction of GSH anabolism and GST activity by NAC was observed even in uncontaminated bivalves.
• NAC treatment effectively enhanced the elimination of domoic acid in king scallops, demonstrating broad applicability.

Conclusions:

• N-acetylcysteine (NAC) is a highly effective pro-drug for accelerating the detoxification and elimination of chemical contaminants, including pesticides and biotoxins, from marine bivalves.
• This novel depuration strategy enhances the natural detoxification pathways (GSH/GST system) in shellfish, improving their safety for human consumption.
• The NAC-enhanced depuration method offers a promising solution for managing chemical and microbiological risks associated with shellfish aquaculture and consumption.