Fluorescent transgenic zebrafish as a biosensor for growth-related effects of methyl parathion.
Transgenic fish models are potential alternative subjects in toxicological studies, since they can provide in vivo information on the deleterious effects of different substances. Here, we used a transgenic zebrafish (Danio rerio) lineage, which expresses a destabilized fluorescent protein (DsRED) driven by the myosin light chain promoter (Mylz2), in order to propose a new research tool for environmental biomonitoring. For validating the MYO-RED lineage, we exposed fish to the organophosphorated pesticide methyl parathion (MP). The effect of MP on fish growth was assessed by evaluating weight, length, condition factor and muscle fiber diameter. All factors suffered reduction at both tested concentrations (0.13μM and 13μM of MP). Similarly, fluorescence intensity decreased in a concentration-dependent manner, suggesting muscle protein catabolism. However, DsRED gene expression lowered only at the higher MP concentration. Results indicate that the MYO-RED transgenic zebrafish is an interesting model for detecting the growth-related effects of pollutants. Destabilized proteins such as reporter genes are apparently sensitive biomarkers, since effects were observed even at the lower, environmentally acceptable concentration. Therefore, this transgenic fish is a promising candidate model for sensitive, fast, and easy environmental monitoring.
Programa de Pós-Graduação em Aquicultura, Instituto de Oceanografia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande - FURG, Rio Grande, RS, Brazil.
Daniela Volcan
DV
Almeida
Instituto Federal Sul-Riograndense, Pelotas, RS, Brazil.
Bernardo
B
Vaz
Programa de Pós-Graduação em Aquicultura, Instituto de Oceanografia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande - FURG, Rio Grande, RS, Brazil.
Márcio
M
Azevedo Figueiredo
Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande - FURG, Rio Grande, RS, Brazil.
Antonio Sergio Varela
AS
Junior
Programa de Pós-Graduação em Aquicultura, Instituto de Oceanografia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande - FURG, Rio Grande, RS, Brazil; Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande - FURG, Rio Grande, RS, Brazil. Electronic address: dqmluf@furg.br.
Luis Fernando
LF
Marins
D000818:Animals; D030801:Animals, Genetically Modified; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism*; D015374:Biosensing Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods*; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects; D048788:Growth and Development / Q000187:drug effects*; D008164:Luminescent Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D008743:Methyl Parathion / Q000633:toxicity*; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000633:toxicity*; D015027:Zebrafish / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology*
D015415:Biomarkers; D008164:Luminescent Proteins; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; C413663:fluorescent protein 583; D008743:Methyl Parathion
Destabilized red fluorescent protein; Pesticide; Transgenesis