This Thursday, November 3rd at 11:00 am we continue with the 6th edition of the Café con Sal Program. Laura Fernández, a doctoral student at the University of Vigo, will present part of the results of her doctoral thesis with the talk entitled “Endocrine disruption in Mytilus galloprovincialis, the marine sentinel“.
The general objective of Laura Fernández’s thesis, directed by Paula Sánchez and Ángel Diz and entitled “Use of vitellogenin as a biomarker of endocrine disruption in marine mussels, a proteomic approach” is to develop and standardize a biomarker for the assessment of the presence and effects of xenoestrogenic substances in the marine environment, based on the induction of vitellogenin (VTG) in the mussel Mytilus galloprovincialis, with the ultimate aim of including this biomarker in future pollution monitoring campaigns for the assessment of the effects of xenoestrogens in coastal areas.
Endocrine disruptors (EDCs), and in particular xenoestrogens, encompass a wide range of pollutants, including priority hazardous substances and emerging pollutants that can cause harmful effects in coastal ecosystems, such as feminization of males in shellfish and fish populations. Marine pollution monitoring efforts include analysis of pollutants in biomonitor organisms, such as mussels, and measurement of some biomarkers of expression and effect, but there are no standardized methods for biological monitoring of xenoestrogens.
This project focuses on the development of a technique for the quantitative analysis of vitellogenin in mussel gonadal tissue, comparing an indirect technique (alkali labile phosphates ALP) with direct determination by mass spectrophotometry after protein separation by electrophoresis. This proteomic approach will also be used to identify other proteins differentially expressed in response to estrogen exposure, which could be used as potential additional biomarkers of estrogenicity.
During this conference, Laura will explain the protocol adjustment for the extraction, quantification and identification of vitellogenin in Mytilus galloprovincialis and will present the results obtained in an experiment of exposure to the synthetic hormone ethinylestradiol (EE2) using two techniques: The indirect alkali-labile phosphate (ALP) technique and the direct mass spectrophotometry technique.
See the complete program of the Café con Sal Scientific Presentations Program.
See Laura Fernández’s presentation poster.
We are waiting for you at ECIMAT.
