Stress response of lettuce (Lactuca sativa) to environmental contamination with selected pharmaceuticals: A proteomic study

Pharmaceutical compounds have been found in rivers and treated wastewaters. They often contaminate irrigation waters consequently accumulate edible vegetables, causing changes plants metabolism. The main objective of this work is to understand how lettuce cope with the contamination from three selected pharmaceuticals using a label free proteomic analysis. A hydroponic culture, grown for 36 days, was exposed metformin, acetaminophen carbamazepine (at 1 mg/L), during 8 after which roots leaves were sampled analysed liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry proteomics-based approach. In roots, total 612 proteins showed differentially accumulation while 237 identified significant differences over controls. Carbamazepine contaminant that most affected protein abundance highest number accumulated observed acetaminophen. under carbamazepine, stress related species such as catalase, superoxide dismutase peroxidases presented higher abundance. Ascorbate peroxidase increased metformin. Cell respiration by presence suggesting possible dysregulation Krebs cycle. Acetaminophen caused pathways, more emphasis leaves. Lettuce revealed different tolerance levels when contaminants compared, being tolerant metformin less carbamazepine. increase emerging ecosystems makes essential these may affect metabolism organisms. Our study contributes detailed approach interactions occur plant subjected induced (acetaminophen, metformin).