Odonates, commonly referred to as dragonflies, have the unique ability to tolerate heavy metals in polluted environments. This ability, along with their abundance in freshwater ecosystems, makes them ideal bioindicators for the presence of heavy metals, particularly in their nymph stage where they remain mostly aquatic and sedentary. Previous studies have hypothesized that the ability to tolerate these contaminated environments may be due to the presence of metallothionein, a protein responsible for heavy metal detoxification and metabolism in a variety of insects. However, isolation and characterization of this protein in odonates has not been achieved, so the complete mechanism behind their detoxification abilities remain largely unknown. With this project, our main objective is to evaluate metallothionein as a possible mechanism for heavy metal detoxification in nymph stage odonates. To achieve this goal, we intend to analyze the toxicity levels of heavy metals in nymphs and isolate this protein from nymph stage odonates in order to confirm its presence in these invertebrate species. Analytical and biochemistry techniques such as affinity chromatography and electrophoresis will be used to purify the samples and confirm the presence of metallothionein in the nymph stage. This will serve to shed light on a previously unknown bioaccumulation mechanism and will further establish odonates as biosentinels for heavy metal pollution.

Evaluation of metallothioneins as a possible mechanism for heavy metal detoxification in nymph stage odonates

ACS Spring 2022

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