Transcriptomic responses and apoptosis in larval red drum (Sciaenops ocellatus) co-exposed to crude oil and ultraviolet (UV) radiation

Rachel R Leads; Jason T Magnuson; JoAnn Lucero; Amie K Lund; Daniel Schlenk; J Ruben Chavez; Aaron P Roberts

doi:10.1016/j.marpolbul.2022.113684

Transcriptomic responses and apoptosis in larval red drum (Sciaenops ocellatus) co-exposed to crude oil and ultraviolet (UV) radiation

Mar Pollut Bull. 2022 Jun:179:113684. doi: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2022.113684. Epub 2022 Apr 27.

Authors

Rachel R Leads¹, Jason T Magnuson², JoAnn Lucero³, Amie K Lund³, Daniel Schlenk⁴, J Ruben Chavez⁵, Aaron P Roberts³

Affiliations

¹ University of North Texas, Department of Biological Sciences and Advanced Environmental Research Institute, 1155 Union Circle #305220, Denton, TX 76203, USA. Electronic address: RachelLeads@my.unt.edu.
² Department of Environmental Sciences, University of California Riverside, Riverside, CA 92521, USA.
³ University of North Texas, Department of Biological Sciences and Advanced Environmental Research Institute, 1155 Union Circle #305220, Denton, TX 76203, USA.
⁴ Department of Environmental Sciences, University of California Riverside, Riverside, CA 92521, USA; Institute of Environmental Health, College of Environmental and Resource Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China.
⁵ Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, Coastal Conservation Association, Central Power and Light Marine Development Center, Corpus Christi, TX 78418, USA.

PMID: 35489094
DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2022.113684

Abstract

Ultraviolet (UV) radiation can significantly increase the toxicity of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in crude oil to early life stage (ELS) fishes through photo-induced /photo-enhanced toxicity. However, little is known about the sub-lethal effects and mechanisms of photo-induced PAH toxicity in ELS fishes. The present study investigated apoptosis and global transcriptomic effects in larval red drum (Sciaenops ocellatus) (24-72 h post-fertilization) following co-exposure to oil (0.29-0.30 μg/L ∑PAH₅₀) and UV. Apoptosis was quantified using the TUNEL assay, and transcriptomic effects were assessed using RNA sequencing analysis. Apoptotic fluorescence was greatest in the eyes and skin following 24 and 48 h co-exposure to oil and UV, indicating photo-induced toxicity. Consistent with these phenotypic responses, pathways associated with phototransduction, eye development, and dermatological disease were among the top predicted pathways impacted. The present study is the first to provide global transcriptomic analysis of UV and oil co-exposure in an ELS fish.

Keywords: Deepwater horizon (DWH); Early life stage (ELS) fish; Photo-induced toxicity; Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH); RNA sequencing (RNA-Seq); TUNEL assay.

MeSH terms

Animals
Apoptosis
Fishes
Larva
Perciformes* / physiology
Petroleum Pollution* / analysis
Petroleum* / analysis
Petroleum* / toxicity
Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons* / analysis
Transcriptome
Water Pollutants, Chemical* / analysis

Substances

Petroleum
Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons
Water Pollutants, Chemical