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Updated: Mar 9, 2026
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Small Molecule Screening and Toxicity Testing in Early-stage Zebrafish Larvae
Published on: March 7, 2025
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Chronic Pyraclostrobin Exposure-Induced Developmental Toxicity and ABC Transporter-Associated Metabolism Disorders
Jinhua Jiang1, Wenjing Zhou1, Nan Fang1
1State Key Laboratory for Quality and Safety of Agro─Products, Institute of Agro-product Safety and Nutrition, Zhejiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Hangzhou 310021, Zhejiang, China.
Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry
|March 7, 2026
Summary
Pyraclostrobin (PY) exposure causes developmental toxicity and disrupts glucose and lipid metabolism in zebrafish larvae. This fungicide may target specific ABC transporters, highlighting risks to aquatic ecosystems.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Toxicology
- Ecotoxicology
- Molecular Biology
Background:
- Pyraclostrobin (PY) is a widely used fungicide with potential environmental impacts.
- Sublethal effects and toxic mechanisms of PY in aquatic organisms require further investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the sublethal effects of PY on zebrafish embryonic development.
- To elucidate the toxic mechanisms of PY, focusing on metabolic and molecular pathways.
Main Methods:
- Zebrafish embryos were exposed to PY (0.750-12.0 μg/L) for 28 days.
- Developmental parameters, biochemical assays, gene transcription analysis, whole-larvae metabolomics, and molecular docking were employed.
Main Results:
- PY exposure (≥3.00 μg/L) induced developmental toxicity, including increased larval weight and hepatic/renal impairment.
- PY altered glucose, pyruvate, cholesterol, triglyceride, and free fatty acid levels, and related gene expression.
- Metabolomics revealed disruption of ABC transporters, amino acid biosynthesis, and arginine/proline metabolism.
- Strobilurins interacted with zebrafish ABCB5, suggesting a molecular target for PY toxicity.
Conclusions:
- Pyraclostrobin exerts developmental toxicity and disrupts key metabolic pathways in zebrafish.
- ABCB5 is identified as a potential molecular target for strobilurin fungicides.
- Chronic ecological risks associated with PY require thorough assessment.
