MOE Key Laboratory of Pollution Processes and Environmental Criteria, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, China; College of Geography and Environment, Shandong Normal University, Jinan 250358, China.
MOE Key Laboratory of Pollution Processes and Environmental Criteria, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, China.
Environ Int. 2023 Aug;178:108105. doi: 10.1016/j.envint.2023.108105. Epub 2023 Jul 20.
Cadmium (Cd) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are prominent soil contaminants found in industrial sites, and their combined effects on plants are not yet fully understood. To investigate the mechanisms underlying the co-exposure of Cd and PAHs and identify key biomarkers for their co-effects, an integrated analysis of metabolomics, transcriptomics, and proteomics was conducted on ryegrass leaves cultivated in soil. In nontarget metabolomics analysis, nine differentially expressed metabolites that were specifically induced by the compound exposure were identified. When combined with the analysis of differentially expressed genes and proteins, it was determined that the major pathways involved in the response to the co-stress of Cd and PAHs were linoleic acid metabolism and phenylpropanoid biosynthesis. The upregulation of 12,13-dihydroxy-9Z-octadecenoic acid and the downregulation of sinapyl alcohol were identified as typical biomarkers, respectively. Compared to scenarios of single exposures, the compound exposure to Cd and PAHs disrupted the oxidation of linoleic acid, leading to alterations in the profiles of linoleate metabolites. Additionally, it intensified hydroxylation, carboxylation, and methylation processes, and interfered with reactions involving coenzyme A, thus inhibiting lignin production. As a result, oxidative stress was elevated, and the cell wall defense system in ryegrass was weakened. The findings of this study highlight the ecological risks associated with unique biological responses in plants co-exposed to Cd and PAHs in polluted soils.
镉 (Cd) 和多环芳烃 (PAHs) 是工业场地中常见的土壤污染物，它们对植物的联合效应尚未完全了解。为了研究 Cd 和 PAHs 共同暴露的机制，并确定其共同作用的关键生物标志物，对生长在土壤中的黑麦草叶片进行了代谢组学、转录组学和蛋白质组学的综合分析。在非靶向代谢组学分析中，鉴定出了 9 种在复合暴露下特异性诱导的差异表达代谢物。当与差异表达基因和蛋白质的分析相结合时，确定了参与 Cd 和 PAHs 复合胁迫反应的主要途径是亚油酸代谢和苯丙烷生物合成。上调的 12,13-二羟基-9Z-十八碳烯酸和下调的丁香醇分别被确定为典型的生物标志物。与单一暴露相比，Cd 和 PAHs 的复合暴露破坏了亚油酸的氧化，导致亚油酸代谢物的谱发生改变。此外，它加剧了羟化、羧化和甲基化过程，并干扰了涉及辅酶 A 的反应，从而抑制了木质素的产生。结果，氧化应激增加，黑麦草的细胞壁防御系统减弱。本研究的结果强调了在污染土壤中共同暴露于 Cd 和 PAHs 的植物中独特的生物反应所带来的生态风险。
