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Environmental lipidomics: understanding the response of organisms and ecosystems to a changing world

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Abstract

Background

Understanding the interaction between organisms and the environment is important for predicting and mitigating the effects of global phenomena such as climate change, and the fate, transport, and health effects of anthropogenic pollutants. By understanding organism and ecosystem responses to environmental stressors at the molecular level, mechanisms of toxicity and adaptation can be determined. This information has important implications in human and environmental health, engineering biotechnologies, and understanding the interaction between anthropogenic induced changes and the biosphere. One class of molecules with unique promise for environmental science are lipids; lipids are highly abundant and ubiquitous across nearly all organisms, and lipid profiles often change drastically in response to external stimuli. These changes allow organisms to maintain essential biological functions, for example, membrane fluidity, as they adapt to a changing climate and chemical environment. Lipidomics can help scientists understand the historical and present biofeedback processes in climate change and the biogeochemical processes affecting nutrient cycles. Lipids can also be used to understand how ecosystems respond to historical environmental changes with lipid signatures dating back to hundreds of millions of years, which can help predict similar changes in the future. In addition, lipids are direct targets of environmental stressors, for example, lipids are easily prone to oxidative damage, which occurs during exposure to most toxins.

Aim of Review

This is the first review to summarize the current efforts to comprehensively measure lipids to better understand the interaction between organisms and their environment. This review focuses on lipidomic applications in the arenas of environmental toxicology and exposure assessment, xenobiotic exposures and health (e.g., obesity), global climate change, and nutrient cycles. Moreover, this review summarizes the use of and the potential for lipidomics in engineering biotechnologies for the remediation of persistent compounds and biofuel production.

Key Scientific Concept

With the preservation of certain lipids across millions of years and our ever-increasing understanding of their diverse biological roles, lipidomic-based approaches provide a unique utility to increase our understanding of the contemporary and historical interactions between organisms, ecosystems, and anthropogenically-induced environmental changes.

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Data availability

No new data was generated for this review.

Software availability

No software was used or developed for this review.

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Disclaimer

The scientific results and conclusions, as well as any opinions expressed herein, are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of NOAA or the Department of Commerce. The mention of any commercial product is not meant as an endorsement by the Agency or Department. Certain commercial equipment, instruments, or materials are identified in this paper to specify adequately the experimental procedures. Such identification does not imply recommendation or endorsement by the National Institute of Standards and Technology; nor does it imply that the materials or equipment identified are necessarily the best for the purpose.

Funding

Funding was provided by National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (Grant No. 5U24DK097209-05).

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Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Contributions

JPK made all tables and figures and led the biogeochemistry and oxidative stress sections. MPN wrote the section on “Influence of Global Climate Change on Nutrients from Seafood”. CZU focused on the sections related to lipidomics, human health, and the environment. JAB focused on the sections related wildlife disease and lipidomics. MNVP provided expertise on the section on bioremediation, especially the direct use of lipids for anaerobic digestion. JPK, MPN, CZU, VV, TJG, RAY, MNVP, KJGP, and JAB all edited the manuscript in-depth, and added text and references throughout all sections.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to John A. Bowden.

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Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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This article does not contain any studies with human participants or animals performed by any of the authors.

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Koelmel, J.P., Napolitano, M.P., Ulmer, C.Z. et al. Environmental lipidomics: understanding the response of organisms and ecosystems to a changing world. Metabolomics 16, 56 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11306-020-01665-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11306-020-01665-3

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