Abstract
Populations of the teleost fish Fundulus heteroclitus inhabit and have adapted to highly polluted Superfund sites that are contaminated with persistent toxic chemicals. Populations inhabiting different Superfund sites provide independent contrasts for studying mechanisms of toxicity and resistance due to exposure to environmental pollutants. To identify both shared and unique responses to chronic pollutant exposure, liver, metabolic gene expression in F. heteroclitus populations from each of three Superfund sites (New Bedford Harbor, MA; Newark Bay, NJ; and Elizabeth River, VA) were compared to two flanking reference site populations (nine populations in total). In comparisons to their two clean reference sites, the three Superfund sites had 8-32% of genes with altered expression patterns. Between any two Superfund populations, up to nine genes (4%) show a conserved response, yet among all three populations, there was no gene which had a conserved, altered pattern of expression. Across all three Superfund sites in comparison to all six-reference populations, the most significant gene was fatty acid synthase. Fatty acid synthase is involved in the storage of excess energy as fat, and its lesser expression in the polluted populations suggests that the polluted populations may have limited energy stores. In contrast to previous studies of metabolic gene expression in F. heteroclitus, body weight was a significant covariate for many of the genes which could reflect accumulation and different body burdens of pollutants. Overall, the altered gene expression in these populations likely represents both induced and adaptive changes in gene expression.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 161-171 |
| Number of pages | 11 |
| Journal | Aquatic Toxicology |
| Volume | 90 |
| Issue number | 3 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Nov 21 2008 |
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Keywords
- Fundulus heteroclitus
- Gene expression
- Microarray
- Natural populations
- Pollution
- Superfund site
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Aquatic Science
- Health, Toxicology and Mutagenesis
Cite this
Changes in gene expression due to chronic exposure to environmental pollutants. / Oleksiak, Marjorie F.
In: Aquatic Toxicology, Vol. 90, No. 3, 21.11.2008, p. 161-171.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Changes in gene expression due to chronic exposure to environmental pollutants
AU - Oleksiak, Marjorie F
PY - 2008/11/21
Y1 - 2008/11/21
N2 - Populations of the teleost fish Fundulus heteroclitus inhabit and have adapted to highly polluted Superfund sites that are contaminated with persistent toxic chemicals. Populations inhabiting different Superfund sites provide independent contrasts for studying mechanisms of toxicity and resistance due to exposure to environmental pollutants. To identify both shared and unique responses to chronic pollutant exposure, liver, metabolic gene expression in F. heteroclitus populations from each of three Superfund sites (New Bedford Harbor, MA; Newark Bay, NJ; and Elizabeth River, VA) were compared to two flanking reference site populations (nine populations in total). In comparisons to their two clean reference sites, the three Superfund sites had 8-32% of genes with altered expression patterns. Between any two Superfund populations, up to nine genes (4%) show a conserved response, yet among all three populations, there was no gene which had a conserved, altered pattern of expression. Across all three Superfund sites in comparison to all six-reference populations, the most significant gene was fatty acid synthase. Fatty acid synthase is involved in the storage of excess energy as fat, and its lesser expression in the polluted populations suggests that the polluted populations may have limited energy stores. In contrast to previous studies of metabolic gene expression in F. heteroclitus, body weight was a significant covariate for many of the genes which could reflect accumulation and different body burdens of pollutants. Overall, the altered gene expression in these populations likely represents both induced and adaptive changes in gene expression.
AB - Populations of the teleost fish Fundulus heteroclitus inhabit and have adapted to highly polluted Superfund sites that are contaminated with persistent toxic chemicals. Populations inhabiting different Superfund sites provide independent contrasts for studying mechanisms of toxicity and resistance due to exposure to environmental pollutants. To identify both shared and unique responses to chronic pollutant exposure, liver, metabolic gene expression in F. heteroclitus populations from each of three Superfund sites (New Bedford Harbor, MA; Newark Bay, NJ; and Elizabeth River, VA) were compared to two flanking reference site populations (nine populations in total). In comparisons to their two clean reference sites, the three Superfund sites had 8-32% of genes with altered expression patterns. Between any two Superfund populations, up to nine genes (4%) show a conserved response, yet among all three populations, there was no gene which had a conserved, altered pattern of expression. Across all three Superfund sites in comparison to all six-reference populations, the most significant gene was fatty acid synthase. Fatty acid synthase is involved in the storage of excess energy as fat, and its lesser expression in the polluted populations suggests that the polluted populations may have limited energy stores. In contrast to previous studies of metabolic gene expression in F. heteroclitus, body weight was a significant covariate for many of the genes which could reflect accumulation and different body burdens of pollutants. Overall, the altered gene expression in these populations likely represents both induced and adaptive changes in gene expression.
KW - Fundulus heteroclitus
KW - Gene expression
KW - Microarray
KW - Natural populations
KW - Pollution
KW - Superfund site
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=55049115975&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=55049115975&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.aquatox.2008.08.010
DO - 10.1016/j.aquatox.2008.08.010
M3 - Article
C2 - 18929415
AN - SCOPUS:55049115975
VL - 90
SP - 161
EP - 171
JO - Aquatic Toxicology
JF - Aquatic Toxicology
SN - 0166-445X
IS - 3
ER -