17α-ethinylestradiol analysis of endo- and exometabolome of ulva lactuca (chlorophyta) by 1H-NMR spectroscopy and bioinformatics tools

Abstract

The uptake of 17α-ethinylestradiol (EE2) by the green alga Ulva lactuca and its effects on the metabolome of that macroalgae have been investigated using 1H-NMR spectroscopy. To this end, U. lactuca in vitro cultures have been acutely (48 h) exposed to the estrogen and both, endo- and exometabolome were investigated. Bioinformatic analyses were performed to integrate and analyze endo- and exometabolic profiles allowing the detection of EE2 into exometabolome samples and identifying very important parameters (VIPs), i.e., 1H-NMR resonances, responsible for grouping similar U. lactuca metabolic profiles and biochemical phenotypes.