TY - JOUR
T1 - Neurotoxic action of microcystin-LR is reflected in the transcriptional stress response of Caenorhabditis elegans
AU - Saul, Nadine
AU - Chakrabarti, Shumon
AU - Stürzenbaum, Stephen R
AU - Menzel, Ralph
AU - Steinberg, Christian E W
PY - 2014/11/5
Y1 - 2014/11/5
N2 - Cyanobacterial blooms in aquatic environments are frequently characterized by elevated levels of microcystins, a potent hepatotoxin. Here we exposed the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans with environmentally realistic concentrations of MC-LR to explore its non-hepatic toxicity. Lifespan, reproduction and growth assays confirmed the toxic potential of 100μg/L MC-LR even in this liver-lacking invertebrate. Whole-genome microarray analysis revealed that a neuromodulating action was the dominant response in nematodes challenged with 100μg/L MC-LR. Indeed, most of the 201 differentially expressed genes were associated with neurobehavior, neurogenesis, and signaling associated pathways. In addition, a whole-genome miRNA-microarray highlighted that, in particular, members of the let-7 family were differentially regulated. These miRNAs are involved in the developmental timing of cell fates, including neurons, and are probably also part of the stress response system. To conclude, neurological modulation is the main transcriptional stress response in C. elegans exposed to MC-LR.
AB - Cyanobacterial blooms in aquatic environments are frequently characterized by elevated levels of microcystins, a potent hepatotoxin. Here we exposed the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans with environmentally realistic concentrations of MC-LR to explore its non-hepatic toxicity. Lifespan, reproduction and growth assays confirmed the toxic potential of 100μg/L MC-LR even in this liver-lacking invertebrate. Whole-genome microarray analysis revealed that a neuromodulating action was the dominant response in nematodes challenged with 100μg/L MC-LR. Indeed, most of the 201 differentially expressed genes were associated with neurobehavior, neurogenesis, and signaling associated pathways. In addition, a whole-genome miRNA-microarray highlighted that, in particular, members of the let-7 family were differentially regulated. These miRNAs are involved in the developmental timing of cell fates, including neurons, and are probably also part of the stress response system. To conclude, neurological modulation is the main transcriptional stress response in C. elegans exposed to MC-LR.
U2 - 10.1016/j.cbi.2014.09.007
DO - 10.1016/j.cbi.2014.09.007
M3 - Article
C2 - 25257166
SN - 0009-2797
VL - 223
JO - Chemico-Biological Interactions
JF - Chemico-Biological Interactions
ER -