Related Experiment Videos
Effect of elevated temperature on genotoxicity of chemotherapeuticals toward Euglena gracilis
1Institute of Molecular and Subcellular Biology, Comenius University, Bratislava, Czechoslovakia.
Abstract:
A collection of 20 compounds was tested for their ability to induce a permanent loss of chloroplasts from Euglena gracilis cells under conditions increasing the sensitivity of the flagellate to genotoxic compounds, viz. in the resting medium and at an elevated temperature. Streptomycin, dihydrostreptomycin, gentamicin, kanamycin and partially chloramphenicol exhibited mutagenic effects. Eight antibiotics eliminated chloroplasts only from growing cultures and seven antibiotics did not induce the mutation at all.
Insights
Certain antibiotics can cause permanent chloroplast loss in Euglena gracilis. Streptomycin, dihydrostreptomycin, gentamicin, kanamycin, and chloramphenicol showed mutagenic effects, impacting chloroplasts under specific conditions.
Area of Science:
- Cell Biology
- Genetics
- Microbiology
Background:
- Euglena gracilis is a model organism for studying chloroplast dynamics.
- Genotoxicity assessment requires understanding cellular responses to chemical agents.
- Environmental factors like temperature and nutrient availability can influence cellular sensitivity.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the potential of 20 compounds to induce permanent chloroplast loss in Euglena gracilis.
- To evaluate the mutagenic effects of selected antibiotics on Euglena gracilis chloroplasts.
- To determine the influence of resting medium and elevated temperature on genotoxic compound sensitivity.
Main Methods:
- Exposure of Euglena gracilis cultures to 20 different compounds.
- Culturing cells in a resting medium at an elevated temperature to increase sensitivity.
- Microscopic observation to assess the permanent loss of chloroplasts.
- Identification of compounds exhibiting mutagenic effects.
Main Results:
- Five antibiotics—streptomycin, dihydrostreptomycin, gentamicin, kanamycin, and chloramphenicol—demonstrated mutagenic effects, causing chloroplast loss.
- Eight antibiotics induced chloroplast elimination exclusively in growing cultures.
- Seven tested antibiotics did not induce any mutation or chloroplast loss.
Conclusions:
- Specific antibiotics possess the ability to induce permanent chloroplast loss in Euglena gracilis.
- Cellular conditions, such as nutrient status and temperature, modulate sensitivity to genotoxic agents.
- This study identifies key antibiotics with mutagenic potential relevant to Euglena gracilis research.