- Environmental Evaluation
- Published:
Application of adenylate energy charge to problems of environmental impact assessment in aquatic organisms
Helgoländer Meeresuntersuchungen volume 33, pages 556–565 (1980)
Abstract
Various physiological and biochemical methods have been proposed for assessing the effects of environmental perturbation on aquatic organisms. The success of these methods as diagnostic tools has, however, been limited. This paper proposes that adenylate energy charge overcomes some of these limitations. The adenylate energy charge (AEC) is calculated from concentrations of adenine nucleotides ([ATP+½ADP]/[ATP+ADP+AMP]), and is a reflection of metabolic potential available to an organism. Several features of this method are: correlation of specific values with physiological condition or growth state, a defined range of values, fast response times and high precision. Several examples from laboratory and field experiments are given to demonstrate these features. The test organisms used (mollusc species) were exposed to a variety of environmental perturbations, including salinity reduction, hydrocarbons and low doses of heavy metal. The studies performed indicate that the energy charge may be a useful measure in the assessment of environmental impact. Its use is restricted, however, as several limitations exist which need to be fully evaluated. Further work relating values to population characteristics of multicellular organisms needs to be completed before the method can become a predictive tool for management.
Literature Cited
Atkinson, D. E., 1968. Citrate and the citrate cycle in the regulation of energy metabolism. — Biochem. Soc. Symp.27, 23–40.
Atkinson, D. E. & Walton, G. M., 1967. ATP conservation in metabolic regulation. — J. biol. Chem.242, 3239–3241.
Ballard, F. J., 1971. The development of gluconeogenesis in rat liver: Controlling factors. — Biochem. J.124, 265–274.
Behm, C. A. & Bryant, C., 1975. Studies of regulatory metabolism inMonieza expansa: General considerations. — Int. J. Parasitol.5, 209–217.
Bewley, J. D. & Gwozdz, E. A., 1975. Plant dessication and protein synthesis. II. On the relationship between endogenous adenosine triphosphate levels and protein-synthesizing capacity. — Pl. Physiol., Lancaster55, 1110–1114.
Chapman, A. G. & Atkinson, D. E., 1973. Stabilization of adenylate energy charge by the adenylate deaminase reaction. — J. biol. Chem.248, 8309–8312.
Chapman, A. G., Fall, L. & Atkinson, D. E., 1971. Adenylate energy charge inEscherichia coli during growth and starvation. — J. Bact.108, 1072–1086.
Ching, T. M., Hedtke, S., Russell, S. A. & Evans, H. J., 1975. Energy state and dinitrogen fixation in soybean nodules of dark-grown plants. — Pl. Physiol., Lancaster55, 796–798.
Chulavatnatol, M. & Haesungcharern, A., 1977. Stabilization of adenylate energy charge and its relation to human sperm motility. — J. biol. Chem.252, 8088–8091.
Davis, J. C., 1977. Standardization and protocols of bioassays — their role and significance for monitoring, research and regulatory usage. — Tech. Rep. environ. Prot. Serv.EPS-5-AR-77-1. 1–4.
Eigener, U., 1975. Adenine nucleotide pool variations in intactNitrobacter winogradskyi cells. — Arch. Mikrobiol.102, 233–240.
Giesy, J. P., Duke, R., Bingham, R. & Denzer, S., 1978. Energy charges in several molluscs and crustaceans: natural values and responses to cadmium stress. — Bull. ecol. Soc. Am.59, 66.
Ivanovici, A. M., 1974.Pyrazus ebeninus, responses to salinity and measurement of stress. — Aust. mar. Sci. Bull.47, 10.
Ivanovici, A. M., 1977a. Adenylate energy charge and physiological stress in the estuarine gastropod,Pyrazus ebeninus. Ph. D. Thesis, Univ. of Sydney, 225 pp.
Ivanovici, A. M., 1977b. Characterization of adenylate energy charge in the estuarine molluscs,Pyrazus ebeninus andTrichomya hirsuta, under a range of environmental conditions. — Proc. Aust. biochem. Soc.10, 44.
Ivanovici, A. M., 1980a. The adenylate energy charge in the estuarine mollusc,Pyrazus ebeninus. Laboratory studies of responses to salinity and temperature. — Comp. Biochem. Physiol.66A, 43–55.
Ivanovici, A. M., 1980b. A method for extraction and assay of adenine nucleotides in molluscan tissue. — Rep. Div. Fish. Oceanogr. C. S. I. R. O. Aust.118. (In press.)
Ivanovici, A. M., 1980c. Adenylate energy charge: an evaluation of applicability to assessment of pollution effects and directions for future research. — Rapp. P.-v. Réun. Cons. int. Explor. Mer.179, 23–28.
Ivanovici, A. M. & Wiebe, W. J., 1980. Towards a working definition of “stress ”: a review and critique. In: Stress effects on natural ecosystems. Ed. by G. W. Barrett & R. Rosenberg. Chichester, Wiley. (In press.)
Jaworek, D., Gruber, W. & Bergmeyer, H. U., 1974. Adenosine-5′-diphosphate and adenosine-5′-monophosphate. In: Methods of enzymatic analysis. Ed. by H. U. Bergmeyer. Verl. Chemie, Weinheim, 2127–2131.
Jeffries, H. P., 1964. Indices of ecological condition in marine organisms — a trial study. — Occ. Publ., Grad. School Oceanogr. Univ. Rhode Isl.2, 59–68.
Jeffries, H. P., 1972. A stress syndrome in the hard clam,Mercenaria mercenaria. — J. Invertebr. Pathol.20, 242–251.
Knowles, C. J., 1977. Microbial metabolic regulation by adenine nucleotide pool. In: Microbial energetics. Ed. by B. A. Haddock & W. A. Hamilton. Cambridge Univ. Press, London, 241–283.
Lamprecht, W. & Trautschold, I., 1974. Adenosine-5′-triphosphate: determination with hexokinase and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase. In: Methods of enzymatic analysis. Ed. by H. U. Bergmeyer. Verl. Chemie, Weinheim, 2101–2110.
Lynch, M. P., 1974. The use of physiological indicators of stress in marine invertebrates as a tool for marine pollution monitoring. — Proc. mar. tech. Soc.10, 881–890.
McErlean, A. J., Kerby, C. & Swartz, R. C., 1972. Discussion of the status of knowledge concerning sampling variation, physiologic tolerances, and possible change criteria for bay organisms. — Chesapeake Sci.13 (Suppl.), S42-S54.
McIntyre, A. D., Bayne, B., Rosenthal, H. & White, I. C., 1978. On the feasibility of effects monitoring. — Coop. Res. Rep., I. C. E. S.75, 1–42.
McLeay, D. J. & Howard, T. E., 1977. Comparison of rapid bioassay procedures for measuring toxic effects of bleached Kraft mill effluent to fish. — Tech. Rep. environ. Prot. Serv.EPS-5-AR-77-1, 141–155.
Montague, M. D. & Dawes, E. A., 1974. The survival ofPeptococcus prevotii in relation to the adenylate energy charge. — J. gen. Microbiol.80, 291–299.
Rainer, S. F., Ivanovici, A. M. & Wadley, V. A., 1979. The effect of reduced salinity on adenylate energy charge in three estuarine molluscs. — Mar. Biol.54, 91–99.
Reece, P., Toth, D. & Dawes, E. A., 1976. Fermentation of purines and their effect on the adenylate energy charge and viability of starvedPeptococcus prevotii. — J. gen. Microbiol.97, 63–71.
Ridge, W., 1972. Hypoxia and the energy charge of the cerebral adenylate pool. — Biochem. J.127, 351–355.
Skjoldal, H. R. & Bakke, T., 1978. Relationship between ATP and energy charge during lethal metabolic stress of the marine isopodCirolana borealis. — J. biol. Chem.253, 3355–3356.
Skjoldal, H. R. & Bamstedt, U., 1977. Ecobiochemical studies on the deep-water pelagic community of Korsfjorden, Western Norway. Adenine nucleotides in zooplankton. — Mar. Biol.42, 197–211.
Sprague, J. B., 1971. Measurement of pollutant toxicity to fish — III. Sublethal effects and “safe ” concentrations. — Wat. Res.5, 245–266.
Swartz, R. C., 1972. Biological criteria of environmental change in the Chesapeake Bay. — Chesapeake Sci.13 (Suppl.), S17-S41.
Thillart, G., Kisbeke, F. & Waarde, A., 1976. Influence of anoxia on the energy metabolism of goldfish,Carassius auratus (L). — Comp. Biochem. Physiol.55 A, 329–336.
Waldichuk, M., 1973. Trends in methodology for evaluation of effects of pollutants on marine organisms and ecosystems. — CRC crit. Rev. environ. Contr.3, 167–211.
Wiebe, W. J. & Bancroft, K., 1975. Use of the adenylate energy charge ratio to measure growth state of natural microbial communities. — Proc. natn. Acad. Sci. USA72, 2112–2115.
Wijsman, T. C. M., 1976. Adenosine phosphates and energy charge in different tissues ofMytilus edulis under aerobic and anaerobic conditions. — J. comp. Physiol.107, 129–140.
Witzel, K.-P., 1979. The adenylate energy charge as a measure of microbial activities in aquatic habitats. — Ergebn. Limnol. (Arch. Hydrobiol. Beih.)12, 146–165.
Zs.-Nagy, I. & Ermini, M., 1972. ATP production in the tissues of the bivalveMytilus galloprovincialis (Pelecypoda) under normal and anoxic conditions. — Comp. Biochem. Physiol.43 B, 593–600.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Ivanovici, A.M. Application of adenylate energy charge to problems of environmental impact assessment in aquatic organisms. Helgolander Meeresunters 33, 556–565 (1980). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02414779
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02414779