The molecular basis of the synergistic toxicity of nickel and copper, common environmental co-contaminants.

ABSTRACT: Heavy metals are ubiquitous in the environment due to both natural processes and anthropogenic activities. Nickel (Ni) and copper (Cu) commonly co-occur in contaminated environments, yet most toxicity studies focus on individual metals. We investigated the combined toxicity of Ni and Cu in Escherichia coli using environmentally relevant concentrations of each. While each metal alone caused minimal growth inhibition, their combination was synergistically toxic. Transcriptomic and metabolomic analyses revealed unique alterations in gene expression and metabolite abundances during the combined metal treatment. Key pathways uniquely impacted by the combined metal exposure included sulfur assimilation, cysteine biosynthesis, and the tricarboxylic acid cycle. Many of these responses appea

SUBMITTER: Darwiche L 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12724342 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature