Conversion of methylmercury into inorganic mercury via organomercurial lyase (MerB) activates autophagy and aggresome formation.

ABSTRACT: Methylmercury (MeHg) is converted to inorganic mercury (iHg) in several organs; however, its impact on tissues and cells remains poorly understood. Previously, we established a bacterial organomercury lyase (MerB)-expressing mammalian cell line to overcome the low cell permeability of iHg and investigate its effects. Here, we elucidated the cytotoxic effects of the resultant iHg on autophagy and deciphered their relationship. Treatment of MerB-expressing cells with MeHg significantly increases the mRNA and protein levels of LC3B and p62, which are involved in autophagosome formation and substrate recognition, respectively. Autophagic flux assays using the autophagy inhibitor chloroquine (CQ) revealed that MeHg treatment activates autophagy in MerB-expressing cells but not in wild-type cell

SUBMITTER: Takanezawa Y 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10651920 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature