FTIR microscopy reveals distinct biomolecular profile of crustacean digestive glands upon subtoxic exposure to ZnO nanoparticles

Biomolecular profiling with Fourier-Transform InfraRed Microscopy was performed to distinguish the Zn2+-mediated effects on the crustacean (Porcellio scaber) digestive glands from the ones elicited by the ZnO nanoparticles (NPs). The exposure to ZnO NPs or ZnCl2 (1500 and 4000 mu g Zn/g of dry food) activated different types of metabolic pathways: some were found in the case of both substances, some only in the case of ZnCl2, and some only upon exposure to ZnO NPs. Both the ZnO NPs and the ZnCl2 increased the protein (approximate to 1312cm(-1); 1720-1485cm(-1)/3000-2830cm(-1)) and RNA concentration (approximate to 1115cm(-1)). At the highest exposure concentration of ZnCl2, where the effects occurred also at the organismal level, some additional changes were found that were not detected upon the ZnO NP exposure. These included changed carbohydrate (most likely glycogen) concentrations (approximate to 1043cm(-1)) and the desaturation of cell membrane lipids (approximate to 3014cm(-1)). The activation of novel metabolic pathways, as evidenced by changed proteins' structure (at 1274cm(-1)), was found only in the case of ZnO NPs. This proves that Zn2+ are not the only inducers of the response to ZnO NPs. Low bioavailable fraction of Zn2+ in the digestive glands exposed to ZnO NPs further supports the role of particles in the ZnO NP-generated effects. This study provides the evidence that ZnO NPs induce their own metabolic responses in the subtoxic range.