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Mercury enrichment indicates volcanic triggering of Valanginian environmental change.

ABSTRACT: The Valanginian stage (Early Cretaceous) includes an episode of significant environmental changes, which are well defined by a positive ?¹³C excursion. This globally recorded excursion indicates important perturbations in the carbon cycle, which has tentatively been associated with a pulse in volcanic activity and the formation of the Paraná-Etendeka large igneous province (LIP). Uncertainties in existing age models preclude, however, its positive identification as a trigger of Valanginian environmental changes. Here we report that in Valanginian sediments recovered from a drill core in W?wa? (Polish Basin, Poland), and from outcrops in the Breggia Gorge (Lombardian Basin, southern Switzerland), and Orpierre and Angles (Vocontian Basin, SE France), intervals at or near the onset of the positive ?¹³C excursion are significantly enriched in mercury (Hg). The persistence of the Hg anomaly in Hg/TOC, Hg/phyllosilicate, and Hg/Fe ratios shows that organic-matter scavenging and/or adsorbtion onto clay minerals or hydrous iron oxides only played a limited role. Volcanic outgassing was most probably the primary source of the Hg enrichments, which demonstrate that an important magmatic pulse triggered the Valanginian environmental perturbations.

SUBMITTER: Charbonnier G

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5247756 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Mercury enrichment indicates volcanic triggering of Valanginian environmental change.

Charbonnier Guillaume G Morales Chloé C Duchamp-Alphonse Stéphanie S Westermann Stéphane S Adatte Thierry T Föllmi Karl B KB

Scientific reports 20170120

The Valanginian stage (Early Cretaceous) includes an episode of significant environmental changes, which are well defined by a positive δ<sup>13</sup>C excursion. This globally recorded excursion indicates important perturbations in the carbon cycle, which has tentatively been associated with a pulse in volcanic activity and the formation of the Paraná-Etendeka large igneous province (LIP). Uncertainties in existing age models preclude, however, its positive identification as a trigger of Valang ...[more]

PMID: 28106091

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Project description:Gene-environment interactions mediated at the epigenetic level may provide an initial step in delivering an appropriate response to environmental changes. 5-hydroxymethylcytosine (5hmC), a DNA base derived from 5-methylcytosine (5mC), accounts for ~40% of modified cytosine in brain and has been implicated in DNA methylation-related plasticity. To identify the role of 5hmC in gene-environment interactions, we exposed both young (6-week-old) and aged (18-month-old) mice to both an enriched environment and a standard environment. Exposure to EE significantly improves learning and memory in aged mice and reduces 5hmC abundance in mouse hippocampus. Furthermore, we mapped the genome-wide distribution of 5hmC and found that the alteration of 5hmC modification occurred mainly at gene bodies. In particular, genes involved in axon guidance are enriched among the genes with altered 5hmC modification. These results together suggest that environmental enrichment could modulate the dynamics of 5hmC in hippocampus, which could potentially contribute to improved learning and memory in aged animals. To identify the role of 5hmC in gene-environment interactions, we exposed both young (6-week-old) and aged (18-month-old) C57B/6 mice to both an enriched environment (EE) and a standard environment. Exposure of mice to EE was achieved by keeping a group of mice in the EE chamber, which is larger than the standard cage, includes novel objects, such as toys of varied color and texture, tunnels, an exercise wheel for voluntary exercise, and extra bedding material, along with free access to food and water. Daily exposure to EE was kept at 5 hours during the daylight cycle for 4 consecutive weeks. Control animals were kept in their small cages that are used as standard housing cages (CE) containing bedding, food and access to water. YC, young mice exposing to control environment, YE, young mice exposing to enriched environment, AC, aged mice exposing to control environment, AE, aged mice exposed to enriched environment. Please note that 5hmC-containing DNA enrichment method was inspired by a unique character of beta-glucotransferase that can specifically add glucose to 5hmC modification. With a modified glucose conjugated with biotin, we are able to purify the 5hmC-containing DNA by biotin-streptavidin-based immunoprecipitation.

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Mercury enrichment indicates volcanic triggering of Valanginian environmental change.

Publications

Mercury enrichment indicates volcanic triggering of Valanginian environmental change.

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