title: Neurotoxic action of microcystin-LR is reflected in the transcriptional stress response of Caenorhabditis elegans.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Freshwater and Stress Ecology, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Späthstr. 80/81, 12437 Berlin, Germany. Electronic address: nadines1976@aol.com.
authors.forename: Nadine
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Saul
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Freshwater and Stress Ecology, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Späthstr. 80/81, 12437 Berlin, Germany.
authors.forename: Shumon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Chakrabarti
authors.affiliation: School of Biomedical Sciences, Analytical and Environmental Sciences Division, King's College London, 150 Stamford Street, London SE1 9NH, UK.
authors.forename: Stephen R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Stürzenbaum
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Freshwater and Stress Ecology, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Späthstr. 80/81, 12437 Berlin, Germany.
authors.forename: Ralph
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Menzel
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Freshwater and Stress Ecology, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Späthstr. 80/81, 12437 Berlin, Germany.
authors.forename: Christian E W
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Steinberg
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017173:Caenorhabditis elegans / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000235:genetics* / Q000254:growth & development; D004249:DNA Damage; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D057097:Harmful Algal Bloom; D008387:Marine Toxins; D035683:MicroRNAs / Q000235:genetics; D052998:Microcystins / Q000633:toxicity*; D009498:Neurotoxins / Q000633:toxicity*; D020411:Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis; D018510:RNA, Helminth / Q000235:genetics; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D008387:Marine Toxins; D035683:MicroRNAs; D052998:Microcystins; D009498:Neurotoxins; D018510:RNA, Helminth; C474488:let-7 microRNA, C elegans; C057862:cyanoginosin LR
keywords: C. elegans; DNA-microarray; Microcystin-LR; Neurobehavior; Toxicity; miRNA-microarray