Effects of Leachates from Hydrothermal Ore Particulates on Life Cycle Parameters and Expression of Defense-Related Genes in the Marine Copepod Tigriopus japonicus

Abstract

We investigated the effects of fine particulate matter from hydrothermal ore on the physiological and molecular responses of the marine copepod Tigriopus japonicus. We evaluated its life cycle parameters including survival, development, and fecundity and the transcriptional profiles of its genes regulating detoxification (cytochrome P450 [CYP]), antioxidation (glutathione S-transferase [GST]), and development (vitellogenin [Vtg]) in response to hydrothermal ore and beneficiation leachates. There were preponderances of copper, iron, and zinc in the hydrothermal ore and the leachates derived from it. There were no significant changes in copepod developmental time in response to leachate exposure. However, copepod survival and fecundity significantly changed in response to the leachates. Moreover, the transcriptional profiles of the detoxification, antioxidation, and development-related genes were significantly modulated following leachate treatment. Hence, hydrothermal ore and beneficiation leachates promoted the transcriptional expression of detoxification, antioxidation, and development-related genes and altered survival and fecundity in T. japonicus. The results of the present study may help to assess the potential impacts of ore mining, mineral extraction, and beneficiation on the physiological and molecular responses of marine organisms.