A molecular biomarker for disruption of crustacean molting: the N-acetyl-beta-glucosaminidase mRNA in the epidermis of the fiddler crab.
Several environmentally persistent chemicals have been found to be capable of disrupting crustacean molting. Considering the importance of molting in the life of crustaceans, there is a need to develop a molecular biomarker that can reflect the disrupting effects of contaminants on ecdysteroid signaling in crustaceans. N-acetyl-beta-glucosaminidase (NAG) is a chitinolytic enzyme found in crustacean epidermis. The results of the present investigation show that the transcription of NAG gene in the epidermis of the fiddler crab, Uca pugilator, is inducible by the molting hormone 20-hydroxyecdysone, which validates the use of NAG mRNA as a biomarker for molt-disrupting effects of xenobiotics.
Meng
Yanling
Y
Department of Biological Sciences, Nicholls State University, Thibodaux, LA 70310, USA.
Zou
Enmin
E
D000118:Acetylglucosaminidase / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis; D003386:Brachyura / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000254:growth & development; D004441:Ecdysterone / Q000494:pharmacology*; D052244:Endocrine Disruptors / Q000494:pharmacology; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000494:pharmacology; D004817:Epidermis / Q000201:enzymology; D005260:Female; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D018978:Molting / Q000187:drug effects*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis*; D016415:Sequence Alignment
D015415:Biomarkers; D052244:Endocrine Disruptors; D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D004441:Ecdysterone; D000118:Acetylglucosaminidase