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Catalase in fluvial biofilms: a comparison between different extraction methods and example of application in a metal-polluted river

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Abstract

Antioxidant enzymes are involved in important processes of cell detoxification during oxidative stress and have, therefore, been used as biomarkers in algae. Nevertheless, their limited use in fluvial biofilms may be due to the complexity of such communities. Here, a comparison between different extraction methods was performed to obtain a reliable method for catalase extraction from fluvial biofilms. Homogenization followed by glass bead disruption appeared to be the best compromise for catalase extraction. This method was then applied to a field study in a metal-polluted stream (Riou Mort, France). The most polluted sites were characterized by a catalase activity 4–6 times lower than in the low-polluted site. Results of the comparison process and its application are promising for the use of catalase activity as an early warning biomarker of toxicity using biofilms in the laboratory and in the field.

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Acknowledgements

We thank the team of the Laboratori d’Enginyeria de Proteïnes (University of Girona) for assistance during catalase activity measurement, and Mathieu Cesari for his useful comments and advice. The “Serveis Tècnics de Recerca” of the University of Girona offered their facilities and technical assistance in the metal analysis. Financial support was provided by 2 European projects: MODELKEY (SSPI-CT-2003-511237-2), KEYBIOEFFECTS (MRTN-CT-2006-035695) and a Spanish project: FLUVIALMULTISTRESS (CTM2009-14111-CO2-01). We also thank two anonymous reviewers for their useful criticism and constructive suggestions on this manuscript.

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  1. Faculty of Sciences, Institute of Aquatic Ecology, University of Girona, Campus Montilivi, 17071, Girona, Spain

    Chloé Bonnineau, Berta Bonet, Natàlia Corcoll & Helena Guasch

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  1. Chloé Bonnineau
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  2. Berta Bonet
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  3. Natàlia Corcoll
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  4. Helena Guasch
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Correspondence to Chloé Bonnineau.

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Bonnineau, C., Bonet, B., Corcoll, N. et al. Catalase in fluvial biofilms: a comparison between different extraction methods and example of application in a metal-polluted river. Ecotoxicology 20, 293–303 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10646-010-0564-2

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