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Gene expression profile changes in Eisenia fetida chronically exposed to PFOA
Srinithi Mayilswami1,2, Kannan Krishnan3,4, Mallavarapu Megharaj2,5
1Centre for Environmental Risk Assessment and Remediation, University of South Australia, Mawson Lakes, Adelaide, SA, 5095, Australia.
Ecotoxicology (London, England)
|March 5, 2016
Summary
Earthworms like Eisenia fetida can detect low levels of perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) using molecular biomarkers. Gene expression changes in E. fetida reveal PFOA
Area of Science:
- Environmental Toxicology
- Molecular Biology
- Biomarker Discovery
Background:
- Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) is a persistent environmental contaminant.
- Sub-lethal concentrations of PFOA pose risks to terrestrial ecosystems.
- Identifying sensitive biomarkers for PFOA exposure is crucial for environmental monitoring.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify molecular biomarkers in Eisenia fetida for detecting sub-lethal PFOA concentrations.
- To investigate the effects of chronic PFOA exposure on gene expression in E. fetida.
Main Methods:
- Exposure of Eisenia fetida to 10 mg/kg PFOA in soil for 8 months.
- mRNA isolation, sequencing, and transcriptome assembly.
- Differential gene expression analysis to identify affected pathways.
Main Results:
- Significant alterations in genes related to apoptosis, reproduction, calcium signaling, neuronal development, and lipid metabolism were observed.
- Identification of specific genes predominantly affected by PFOA exposure.
- Demonstrated impact of PFOA on key biological processes in a terrestrial model organism.
Conclusions:
- Eisenia fetida can serve as a model organism for PFOA toxicity assessment.
- Altered gene expression in E. fetida provides potential molecular biomarkers for PFOA.
- Validated biomarkers can aid in detecting sub-lethal PFOA contamination in soil environments.
