Expression and molecular characterization of stress-responsive genes (hsp70 and Mn-sod) and evaluation of antioxidant enzymes (CAT and GPx) in heavy metal exposed freshwater ciliate, Tetmemena sp.

2019 ◽  
Vol 46 (5) ◽  
pp. 4921-4931 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sripoorna Somasundaram ◽  
Jeeva Susan Abraham ◽  
Swati Maurya ◽  
Ravi Toteja ◽  
Renu Gupta ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Heavy Metal ◽  
Antioxidant Enzymes ◽  
Molecular Characterization ◽  
Stress Responsive Genes

scholarly journals Molecular Characterization and Transcriptional Modulation of Stress-responsive Genes Under Heavy Metal Stress in Freshwater Ciliate, Euplotes Aediculatus

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sripoorna Somasundaram ◽  
Jeeva Susan Abraham ◽  
Swati Maurya ◽  
Ravi Toteja ◽  
Renu Gupta ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Heavy Metals ◽  
Heavy Metal ◽  
Antioxidant Enzymes ◽  
Heavy Metal Stress ◽  
Metal Stress ◽  
Model Systems ◽  
Metal Exposure ◽  
Suitable Model ◽  
Cell Defense ◽  
Stress Responsive Genes

Abstract The concentration of heavy metals in the environment is increasing predominantly due to anthropogenic activities such as mining and other industrial activities. Exposure to metals above a certain threshold level induces deleterious effects in the living organisms. To survive such harsh environment, microbes possess a range of tolerance mechanisms and express stress-responsive genes and/or antioxidant enzymes to detoxify the metal stress. Protozoans, especially ciliates, are highly sensitive to the environmental changes, thereby making them suitable model systems for ecotoxicological studies. Thus, in the present work, the effect of heavy metals such as cadmium and copper has been studied in the freshwater ciliate, Euplotes aediculatus. This study focuses on the activity of antioxidant enzymes namely catalase and glutathione peroxidase in E. aediculatus under the heavy metal stress. Also, the expression of stress-responsive genes; heat-shock protein 70 (hsp70) and catalase (cat), has been studied after metal exposure. It was observed that the enzyme activity and the expression of these genes increased with an increase in the metal concentration and with the duration of metal exposure. Besides, these genes have been characterized to understand their role in cell defense. These genes of fresh water ciliate, therefore, can be used as molecular biomarkers to evaluate heavy metal toxicity.

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