TRANSCRIPTOME DYNAMICS IN HYDRA UNDER ENVIRONMENTAL STRESS

Abstract

We have introduced a large number of chemical substances in to the environment. Most of them are toxic to the environment and human health. The chemicals enter the environment induce various kinds of physiological/metabolic disruptions and genetic changes as well to non-target organisms. It is obvious that evaluating the risks of environmental chemicals is necessary to conserve our ecosystem safe. Hydra is a powerful candidate as test animal for this purpose. Hydra do not have exoskeleton and easy to observe their responses (e.g., muscle contraction and extension) against the external stressors. In the aid of the Hydra genome project, the genome-wide expression analysis for prognostic risk assessment is now possible. Measurement of gene expression can provide important clues about gene function and molecular basis of developmental processes. We analyzed transcriptome profile of representative environmental chemicals, such as benzo[a]pyrene (BaP), perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), Triclosan, ibuprofen, diclofenac, naproxen, and nano ZnO, using customized oligo-microarray HEGEM (Hydra expressed gene microarray) containing 17,000 transcripts. The study can provide important clues about molecular basis of toxicity and the identification of molecular biomarkers to each anthropogenic stress.genetic changes as well to non-target organisms. It is obvious that evaluating the risks of environmental chemicals is necessary to conserve our ecosystem safe. Hydra is a powerful candidate as test animal for this purpose. Hydra do not have exoskeleton and easy to observe their responses (e.g., muscle contraction and extension) against the external stressors. In the aid of the Hydra genome project, the genome-wide expression analysis for prognostic risk assessment is now possible. Measurement of gene expression can provide important clues about gene function and molecular basis of developmental processes. We analyzed transcriptome profile of representative environmental chemicals, such as benzo[a]pyrene (BaP), perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), Triclosan, ibuprofen, diclofenac, naproxen, and nano ZnO, using customized oligo-microarray HEGEM (Hydra expressed gene microarray) containing 17,000 transcripts. The study can provide important clues about molecular basis of toxicity and the identification of molecular biomarkers to each anthropogenic stress.