Decoding Vitellogenin Subtype Responses: A Molecular Approach to Biomarkers of Endocrine Disruption in <i>Scatophagus argus</i>
Vitellogenins (Vtgs) are key yolk precursor proteins in fish, serving as critical indicators of gonadal maturation in females and reliable biomarkers for detecting xeno-oestrogenic pollution, particularly through their expression in juveniles or males. The <i>vtg</i> gene family comprise...
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| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2024-12-01
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| Series: | Fishes |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2410-3888/10/1/15 |
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| Summary: | Vitellogenins (Vtgs) are key yolk precursor proteins in fish, serving as critical indicators of gonadal maturation in females and reliable biomarkers for detecting xeno-oestrogenic pollution, particularly through their expression in juveniles or males. The <i>vtg</i> gene family comprises multiple subtypes that are species-specific, necessitating precise characterisation and quantification for effective use as biomarkers in studies on estrogenic endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EEDCs). In this study, we successfully cloned and characterised the full-length cDNAs of three <i>vtg</i> subtypes (<i>vtgAa</i>, <i>vtgAb</i>, and <i>vtgC</i>) from <i>Scatophagus argus</i>. Differential expression analysis revealed that <i>vtgAb</i> exhibited the highest responsiveness to 17α-ethynylestradiol (EE2) exposure, with a 3-fold increase in vivo at 10.0 μg/g EE2 and a 30-fold increase in vitro at 10<sup>−7</sup> mol/L EE2. The expression patterns were dose- and time-dependent, with peak expression observed 72 h post-exposure. While in vivo assays indicated moderate upregulation, in vitro experiments demonstrated significantly higher expression, attributed to direct hepatocyte interaction with EE2. These findings confirm <i>vtgAb</i> as the most responsive subtype to oestrogen exposure in <i>S. argus</i> and highlight the species’ tolerance to EE2, as compared to more sensitive species like <i>Danio rerio</i>. This study shows the evolutionary conservation of <i>vtg</i> transcripts across teleost species and reinforces the importance of subtype-specific characterisation to advance their application as biomarkers for EEDCs, with significant implications for environmental monitoring and pollution regulation. |
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| ISSN: | 2410-3888 |