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Toxicogenomic responses of the model organism Caenorhabditis elegans to gold nanoparticles

Tsyusko, Olga V.; Unrine, Jason M.; Spurgeon, David ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3264-8760; Blalock, Eric; Starnes, Daniel; Tseng, Michael; Joice, Greg; Bertsch, Paul M.. 2012 Toxicogenomic responses of the model organism Caenorhabditis elegans to gold nanoparticles. Environmental Science & Technology, 46 (7). 4115-4124. 10.1021/es2033108

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Abstract/Summary

We used Au nanoparticles (Au-NPs) as a model for studying particle-specific effects of manufactured nanomaterials (MNMs) by examining the toxicogenomic responses in a model soil organism, Caenorhabditis elegans. Global genome expression for nematodes exposed to 4-nm citrate-coated Au-NPs at the LC10 level (5.9 mg·L–1) revealed significant differential expression of 797 genes. The levels of expression for five genes (apl-1, dyn-1, act-5, abu-11, and hsp-4) were confirmed independently with qRT-PCR. Seven common biological pathways associated with 38 of these genes were identified. Up-regulation of 26 pqn/abu genes from noncanonical unfolded protein response (UPR) pathway and molecular chaperones (hsp-16.1, hsp-70, hsp-3, and hsp-4) were observed and are likely indicative of endoplasmic reticulum stress. Significant increase in sensitivity to Au-NPs in a mutant from noncanonical UPR (pqn-5) suggests possible involvement of the genes from this pathway in a protective mechanism against Au-NPs. Significant responses to Au-NPs in endocytosis mutants (chc-1 and rme-2) provide evidence for endocytosis pathway being induced by Au-NPs. These results demonstrate that Au-NPs are bioavailable and cause adverse effects to C. elegans by activating both general and specific biological pathways. The experiments with mutants further support involvement of several of these pathways in Au-NP toxicity and/or detoxification.

Item Type: Publication - Article
Digital Object Identifier (DOI): 10.1021/es2033108
Programmes: CEH Topics & Objectives 2009 - 2012 > Biogeochemistry
UKCEH and CEH Sections/Science Areas: Hails
ISSN: 0013-936X
NORA Subject Terms: Biology and Microbiology
Date made live: 21 Jan 2013 12:04 +0 (UTC)
URI: https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/21163

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