Genotoxicant accumulation and cellular defence activation in bivalves chronically exposed to waterborne contaminants from the Seine River.

The aim of the present work was to investigate genotoxicant accumulation and biological responses of zebra mussels and blue mussels collected along a pollution gradient in the Seine estuary and in the Seine Bay. The sampling area included three contaminated and one reference sites for each species. The study focused on polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAH), lindane, polychlorobiphenyls (PCB) and metals known to be potential genotoxicants and/or reactive oxygen species (ROS) inducers. Enzymatic activities related to cellular defence systems including the phase II enzyme glutathione S-transferase (GST) and three antioxidant enzymes superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) were measured in gills. DNA adducts and DNA strand breaks (Comet assay) were measured in digestive gland and hemocytes, respectively. Species differences were observed in metal accumulation (As and Pb), GPx activity and DNA adduct formation. A marked upstream-downstream gradient was reported for PAH body burden and to a lesser extent for PCB and metals with the highest values measured just downstream the industrialized area of Rouen. GST and SOD activities in gills of bivalves were positively related to PAH and metals body burden, respectively. Activation of those cellular defences may prevent accumulation of electrophilic metabolites and free radicals and thus may protect DNA and others macromolecules against oxidation and adduction. Although DNA strand breaks and bulky adducts were detected in both species, levels were relatively low and no significant site differences were observed in June 2003. Our results indicate a clear relationship between genotoxicant accumulation and positive activation of detoxification and antioxidant systems but poor consequences in term of DNA damage for wild population of mussels inhabiting the Seine estuary.

Molecular cloning of superoxide dismutase (Cu/Zn-SOD) from aquatic molluscs.

The potential of the first line of the active oxygen-scavenging system, partial cDNA encoding Cu/Zn superoxide dismutase (SOD) was isolated in three aquatic mollusc species: Ruditapes decussatus (marine clam), Dreissena polymorpha (continental water mussel) and Bathymodiolus azoricus (hydrothermal vent mussel). These SOD cDNA fragments were amplified by PCR with degenerate oligonucleotide primers derived from the amino acid sequence conserved in the Cu/Zn-SOD from several other organisms. A partial cDNA of CuZn-SOD was obtained for R. decussates (510 bp), D. polymorpha (510 bp) and B. azoricus (195 bp). The deduced amino acid sequence showed high similarity among the three mollusc species (57-63%) and among other species (50-65%). The residues involved in coordinating copper (His-47, 49, 64, 121) and zinc (His-64, 72, 81 and Asp-84) were well conserved among the three Cu/Zn-SOD sequences.