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Mass Spectrometry-Based Metabolomics Investigation on Two Different Seaweeds Under Arsenic Exposure.
Yuan-Sheng Guo1,2, Shuo Gong3, Si-Min Xie4
1National Institutes for Food and Drug Control, State Key Laboratory of Drug Regulatory Science, Beijing 100050, China.
Foods (Basel, Switzerland)
|January 8, 2025
Summary
Seaweed accumulates toxic arsenic, impacting human health. This study identifies key metabolic changes in high-arsenic seaweed, revealing biomarkers for developing safer, low-arsenic varieties.
Area of Science:
- Marine Biology
- Environmental Toxicology
- Metabolomics
Background:
- Arsenic is a prevalent marine contaminant, and seaweeds bioaccumulate it, posing health risks.
- Understanding seaweed's response to arsenic is crucial for food safety and environmental monitoring.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze arsenic content in seaweeds and investigate metabolic alterations due to arsenic exposure.
- To identify biomarkers and metabolic pathways involved in arsenic accumulation in seaweeds.
Main Methods:
- Arsenic content analysis in two seaweed species.
- Categorization of seaweeds into low- and high-arsenic groups.
- Non-targeted metabolomic analysis using mass spectrometry.
Main Results:
- Increased arsenic levels correlated with upregulation of linolenic acid, tyrosine, pheophorbide a, riboflavin, and phenylalanine.
- Decreased levels of arachidonic acid, eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), betaine, and oleamide were observed with higher arsenic concentrations.
- Key metabolic pathways identified include isoquinoline alkaloid biosynthesis, tyrosine, phenylalanine, and riboflavin metabolism.
Conclusions:
- Metabolic profiling reveals specific biomarkers and pathways affected by arsenic in seaweeds.
- Findings support the development of low-arsenic seaweed varieties through selective breeding.
- Insights into seaweed's arsenic metabolism and detoxification mechanisms are provided.
