Microcystins Alter Chemotactic Behavior in Caenorhabditis elegans by Selectively Targeting the AWA Sensory Neuron
Harmful algal blooms expose humans and animals to microcystins (MCs) through contaminated drinking water. While hepatotoxicity following acute exposure to MCs is well documented, neurotoxicity after sub-lethal exposure is poorly understood. We developed a novel statistical approach using a generali...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2014-06-01
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| Series: | Toxins |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.mdpi.com/2072-6651/6/6/1813 |
| _version_ | 1811299634495094784 |
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| author | Caroline E. Moore Pamela J. Lein Birgit Puschner |
| author_facet | Caroline E. Moore Pamela J. Lein Birgit Puschner |
| author_sort | Caroline E. Moore |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Harmful algal blooms expose humans and animals to microcystins (MCs) through contaminated drinking water. While hepatotoxicity following acute exposure to MCs is well documented, neurotoxicity after sub-lethal exposure is poorly understood. We developed a novel statistical approach using a generalized linear model and the quasibinomial family to analyze neurotoxic effects in adult Caenorhabditis elegans exposed to MC-LR or MC-LF for 24 h. Selective effects of toxin exposure on AWA versus AWC sensory neuron function were determined using a chemotaxis assay. With a non-monotonic response MCs altered AWA but not AWC function, and MC-LF was more potent than MC-LR. To probe a potential role for protein phosphatases (PPs) in MC neurotoxicity, we evaluated the chemotactic response in worms exposed to the PP1 inhibitor tautomycin or the PP2A inhibitor okadaic acid for 24 h. Okadaic acid impaired both AWA and AWC function, while tautomycin had no effect on function of either neuronal cell type at the concentrations tested. These findings suggest that MCs alter the AWA neuron at concentrations that do not cause AWC toxicity via mechanisms other than PP inhibition. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-13T06:39:44Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-e54ec9c3510c4f46abe5dde0a7864dc0 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2072-6651 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-13T06:39:44Z |
| publishDate | 2014-06-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Toxins |
| spelling | doaj.art-e54ec9c3510c4f46abe5dde0a7864dc02022-12-22T02:57:47ZengMDPI AGToxins2072-66512014-06-01661813183610.3390/toxins6061813toxins6061813Microcystins Alter Chemotactic Behavior in Caenorhabditis elegans by Selectively Targeting the AWA Sensory NeuronCaroline E. Moore0Pamela J. Lein1Birgit Puschner2Department of Molecular Biosciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, 1089 Veterinary Medicine Drive, 2225 VM3B, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA 95616, USADepartment of Molecular Biosciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, 1089 Veterinary Medicine Drive, 2225 VM3B, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA 95616, USADepartment of Molecular Biosciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, 1089 Veterinary Medicine Drive, 2225 VM3B, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA 95616, USAHarmful algal blooms expose humans and animals to microcystins (MCs) through contaminated drinking water. While hepatotoxicity following acute exposure to MCs is well documented, neurotoxicity after sub-lethal exposure is poorly understood. We developed a novel statistical approach using a generalized linear model and the quasibinomial family to analyze neurotoxic effects in adult Caenorhabditis elegans exposed to MC-LR or MC-LF for 24 h. Selective effects of toxin exposure on AWA versus AWC sensory neuron function were determined using a chemotaxis assay. With a non-monotonic response MCs altered AWA but not AWC function, and MC-LF was more potent than MC-LR. To probe a potential role for protein phosphatases (PPs) in MC neurotoxicity, we evaluated the chemotactic response in worms exposed to the PP1 inhibitor tautomycin or the PP2A inhibitor okadaic acid for 24 h. Okadaic acid impaired both AWA and AWC function, while tautomycin had no effect on function of either neuronal cell type at the concentrations tested. These findings suggest that MCs alter the AWA neuron at concentrations that do not cause AWC toxicity via mechanisms other than PP inhibition.http://www.mdpi.com/2072-6651/6/6/1813Caenorhabidititis eleganschemotaxisgeneralized linear modelmicrocystinsneurotoxicityprotein phosphatasesensory neurons |
| spellingShingle | Caroline E. Moore Pamela J. Lein Birgit Puschner Microcystins Alter Chemotactic Behavior in Caenorhabditis elegans by Selectively Targeting the AWA Sensory Neuron Toxins Caenorhabidititis elegans chemotaxis generalized linear model microcystins neurotoxicity protein phosphatase sensory neurons |
| title | Microcystins Alter Chemotactic Behavior in Caenorhabditis elegans by Selectively Targeting the AWA Sensory Neuron |
| title_full | Microcystins Alter Chemotactic Behavior in Caenorhabditis elegans by Selectively Targeting the AWA Sensory Neuron |
| title_fullStr | Microcystins Alter Chemotactic Behavior in Caenorhabditis elegans by Selectively Targeting the AWA Sensory Neuron |
| title_full_unstemmed | Microcystins Alter Chemotactic Behavior in Caenorhabditis elegans by Selectively Targeting the AWA Sensory Neuron |
| title_short | Microcystins Alter Chemotactic Behavior in Caenorhabditis elegans by Selectively Targeting the AWA Sensory Neuron |
| title_sort | microcystins alter chemotactic behavior in caenorhabditis elegans by selectively targeting the awa sensory neuron |
| topic | Caenorhabidititis elegans chemotaxis generalized linear model microcystins neurotoxicity protein phosphatase sensory neurons |
| url | http://www.mdpi.com/2072-6651/6/6/1813 |
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