Molecular toxicity and defense mechanisms induced by silver nanoparticles in Drosophila melanogaster

The widely use of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) as antimicrobial agents gives rise to potential environmental risks. AgNPs exposure have been reported to cause toxicity in animals. Nevertheless, the known mechanisms of AgNPs toxicity are still limited. In this study, we systematically investigated the toxicity of AgNPs exposure using Drosophila melanogaster. We show here that AgNPs significantly decreased Drosophila fecundity, the third-instar larvae weight and rates of pupation and eclosion in a dose-dependent manner. AgNPs reduced fat body cell viability in MTT (3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide) assays. AgNPs caused DNA damage in hemocytes and S2 cells. Interestingly, the mRNA levels of the entire metallothionein gene family were increased under AgNPs exposure as determined by RNA-seq analysis and validated by qRT-PCR, indicating that Drosophila responded to the metal toxicity of AgNPs by producing metallothioneins for detoxification. These findings provide a better understanding of the mechanisms of AgNPs toxicity and may provide clues to effect on other organisms, including humans.     

镉胁迫对栾树幼苗不同组织部位转录组差异研究

随着重金属镉（Cd）污染日趋严重,找寻高效土壤Cd污染治理方法刻不容缓.以具有植物恢复潜力的栾树（Koelreuteria paniculata）作为研究对象,通过转录组学RNA-Seq测序研究不同浓度Cd胁迫后栾树地上部与根部基因表达与代谢通路的变化.转录组测序结果表明,共获得了65171条Unigenes,根中差异表达的基因显著多于茎叶,且下调表达的基因多于上调表达基因.GO富集结果表明,在Cd胁迫下细胞内核糖核蛋白复合物（Intracellular ribonucleoprotein complex）、核糖核蛋白复合物（Ribonucleoprotein complex）和大分子复合物（Macromolecular complex）是栾树根部差异表达基因主要富集部分.在地上部中,差异表达基因主要富集在膜内组分和膜部分.KEGG途径富集分析表明,在根部中核糖体（Ribosome）、吞噬体（Phagosome）和三羧酸循环（Citrate cycle(TCA cycle)）是主要的富集途径.在叶中,植物激素信号转导通路显著富集.转录因子鉴定结果显示共有10种转录因子家族的基因差异表达...