Abstract
Aims Vitellogenesis is the yolk production process which provides the essential nutrients for the developing embryos. Yolk is a lipoprotein particle that presents lipids and lipid-binding proteins, referred to as vitellogenins (VIT). The Caenorhabditis elegans nematode has six genes encoding VIT lipoproteins. Several pathways are known to regulate vitellogenesis, including the DAF-16 transcription factor. Some reports have shown that heavy metals, such as manganese (Mn), impair brood size in C. Elegans; however the mechanisms associated with this effect have yet to be identified. Our aim was to evaluate Mn′s effects on C. Elegans reproduction and better understand the pathways related to these effects. Main methods. Young adult larval stage worms were treated for 4 h with Mn in 85 mM NaCl and Escherichia coli OP50 medium. Key findings. Mn reduced egg-production and egg-laying during the first 24 h after the treatment, although the total number of progenies were indistinguishable from the control group levels. This delay may have occurred due to DAF-16 activation, which was noted only after the treatment and was not apparent 24 h later. Moreover, the expression, protein levels and green fluorescent protein (GFP) fluorescence associated with VIT were decreased soon after Mn treatment and recovered after 24 h. Significance Combined, these data suggest that the delay in egg-production is likely regulated by DAF-16 and followed by the inhibition of VIT transport activity. Further studies are needed to clarify the mechanisms associated with Mn-induced DAF-16 activation.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 218-223 |
Number of pages | 6 |
Journal | Life Sciences |
Volume | 151 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Apr 15 2016 |
Keywords
- Brood size
- Caenorhabditis elegans
- DAF-16 transcription factor
- Manganese
- Vitellogenin
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- General Pharmacology, Toxicology and Pharmaceutics
- General Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology