Multi-omics revealed ecologically significant bisphenol A induces aberrant lipid metabolism in the marine clam

Bisphenol A (BPA) is widely used in plastic manufacturing and is frequently detected in marine environments. Although the toxicological effects of BPA on fish have been extensively documented, empirical studies on its effects on lower aquatic invertebrates remain extremely scarce. To evaluate the responses of Meretrix petechialis (an important mariculture economic species and a sensitive biological indicator) to BPA at dosages of 1, 10, and 100 μg/L, a thorough examination of the behavior, histology, transcriptomics, and metabolomics was carried out. Our study indicates that BPA significantly impede the oxygen consumption rates, filtration rates, and ammonia-nitrogen excretion rates of M. petechialis. Additionally, BPA induced hepatopancreatic injury and promoted the accumulation of lipid droplets and autophagosomes. Subsequently, oil red O staining confirmed abnormal lipid deposition. Omics analysis identified numerous differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and differentially accumulated metabolites (DAMs). At 1 μg/L, arachidonic acid and alpha-linolenic acid pathways were enriched with downregulation of GPAT4; at 10 μg/L, additional dysregulation of linoleic acid and glycerophospholipid pathways with upregulation of PLA2G2A and CPLA2; at 100 μg/L, downregulation of ALOX5 and CYP2C23 coincided with severe tissue damage. The results of the conjoint analysis revealed that both arachidonic acid and linoleic acid metabolism pathways were significantly enriched in all BPA treatment groups. This work enhances the knowledge of the lipid metabolism toxicity associated with BPA exposure in marine clam and highlights the toxicity concern posed by BPA to lower aquatic invertebrate species.