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Bivalve Esterases as Biomarker: Identification and Characterization in European Cockles (Cerastoderma edule)

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Abstract

This study characterized esterase activity in Cerastoderma edule tissues using different substrates and specific inhibitors and identified the tissue distribution of esterases in this species. Synthetic thiocholines and thioacetate esters and specific inhibitors (eserine, BW284C51 and iso-OMPA) were used to identify and quantify cholines and carboxyl esterases. The results demonstrated the presence of a non-specific propionyl thiocholine (PrSCh)-cleaving cholinesterase (ChE) and a large amount of carboxylesterases (CaE). For further studies using C. edule esterases as biomarkers, our results suggest that the adductor muscle, with PrSCh (5 mM) as substrate should be used to analyze ChE, and for CaE analyses, phenyl thioacetate should be used in digestive gland extracts (PSA, 5 mM).

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Acknowledgments

This study was supported by Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES/Brazil) in international cooperation with Fundação de Ciência e Tecnologia (FCT/Portugal) (process 240/09) and the post-doctoral fellowship of M.S. Monteiro (SFRH/BPD/45911/2008). This publication has been partially financially supported by the Atlantic Area Operational Programme, through the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), Project PORTONOVO (ref 2009-1/119). Technicians of Biology Department of University of Aveiro, Aldiro Pereira and Rui Marques assisted with organism collection. The English was edited by American Journal Experts (1875-CE76-75F9-2EAB-B015).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratory of Marine Ecotoxicology, Instituto de Ciências do Mar (LABOMAR), Universidade Federal do Ceará, Fortaleza, Ceará, 60165-081, Brazil

    Jeamylle Nilin & Letícia V. Costa-Lotufo

  2. Department of Biology and CESAM, University of Aveiro, 3810-193, Aveiro, Portugal

    Marta Monteiro, Ines Domingues, Susana Loureiro & Amadeu M. V. M. Soares

Authors
  1. Jeamylle Nilin
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  2. Marta Monteiro
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  3. Ines Domingues
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  4. Susana Loureiro
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  5. Letícia V. Costa-Lotufo
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  6. Amadeu M. V. M. Soares
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Correspondence to Letícia V. Costa-Lotufo.

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Nilin, J., Monteiro, M., Domingues, I. et al. Bivalve Esterases as Biomarker: Identification and Characterization in European Cockles (Cerastoderma edule). Bull Environ Contam Toxicol 88, 707–711 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00128-012-0521-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00128-012-0521-2

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