The toxicity of selenium and mercury in Suaeda salsa after 7-days exposure

Mercury is one of the major pollutants in the ocean, selenium causes toxicity beyond a certain limit, but there are few comparative toxic studies between them in halophytes. The study was to investigate the toxic effects of selenium (Se4+) and mercury (Hg2+) in halophyte Suaeda salsa at the level of genes, proteins and metabolites after exposure for 7 days. By integrating the results of proteomics and metabolomics, the pathway changed under different treatments were revealed. In Se4+-treated group, the changed 3 proteins and 10 metabolites participated in the process of substance metabolism (amino acid, pyrimidine), citrate cycle, pentose phosphate pathway, photosynthesis, energy, and protein biosynthesis. In Hg2+-treated group, the changed 10 proteins and 10 metabolites were related to photosynthesis, glycolysis, substance metabolism (cysteine and methionine, amino acid, pyrimidine), ATP synthesis and binding, tolerance, sugar-phosphatase activity, and citrate cycle. In Se4++ Hg2+-treated group, the changed 5 proteins an 12 metabolites involved in stress defence, iron ion binding, mitochondrial respiratory chain, structural constituent of ribosome, citrate cycle, and amino acid metabolism. Furthermore, the separate and combined selenium and mercury both inhibited growth of S. salsa, enhanced activity of antioxidant enzymes (superoxide dismutase, peroxidase and catalase), and disturbed osmotic regulation through the genes of choline monoxygenase and betaine aldehyde dehydrogenase. Our experiments also showed selenium could induce synergistic effects in S. salsa. In all, we successfully characterized the effects of selenium and mercury in plant which was helpful to evaluate the toxicity and interaction of marine pollutants.

Automated summary

This study investigated the toxic effects of selenium and mercury on the halophyte Suaeda salsa at the genetic, protein, and metabolite levels. Changes in pathways involved in metabolism, photosynthesis, and energy production were revealed under different treatments. Both selenium and mercury inhibited growth of S. salsa, enhanced antioxidant enzyme activity, and disrupted osmotic regulation through gene expression, with selenium showing potential for synergistic effects.