Expression of glutathione S-transferase (GST) genes in the marine copepod Tigriopus japonicus exposed to trace metals

The intertidal copepod, Tigriopus japonicus has been recognized as a potential model species for marine pollution toxicity testing. Toxicity ranges of several biocides, endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs), and trace metals are known in T. japonicus. A large number of expressed sequence tags (ESTs) and genomic DNA are also sequenced from T. japonicus. In this study, expression of ten glutathione S-transferase (GST) genes was studied in the copepods exposed to trace metals. Expression of these genes was also studied against exposure to hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) used as a positive control with prooxidant activity. Of all genes, expression of GST-Sigma (GSTS) was highly upregulated in H₂O₂ as well as trace metal-exposed copepods. In the time-course study, expression of GSTS mRNA was more consistent compared to other GSTs such as GST-Omega, GST-Delta1, GST-Theta3 or microsomal GST1 (mGST1). GSTS is predominantly reported from the insects. Coupled with the previous study of the in vitro antioxidant role of T. japonicus GSTS, these findings imply an antioxidant role for GSTS and highlight its importance as a biomarker of exposure to trace metals in T. japonicus. However, further validation and field trials would be necessary to propose GSTS gene expression as biomarker of exposure to trace metals, as for some trace metals such as silver the response was not consistent in concentration and time-series exposure experiments.