Genotoxicity evaluation of acephate and profenofos by the PCR-RFLP assay

Abstract

Objectives:In this study we have evaluated the genotoxic potential of pesticides acephate and profenofos by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) assay with the mosquito Culex quinquefasciatus taken as experimental model.Material and Methods:Second instar larvae were treated with LC20 of each pesticide for 24 h and induced mutations in the sequence of mitochondrial 16S rRNA gene were studied from restriction patterns generated with PacI and PsiI restriction endonucleases.Results:Variations in the number and size of digested fragments were recorded from treated individuals compared with controls showing that the restriction enzymes created a cut at different locations. In addition, sequences of the 16S gene from control and treated individuals were also used to confirm the RFLP patterns. From the sequence alignment data, it was found that mutations caused the destruction and generation of restriction sites in the gene sequence of treated individuals.Conclusion:This study indicates that both the pesticides had significant potential to induce mutations in the 16S gene of Culex quinquefasciatus.

Profenofos, an Acetylcholinesterase‐Inhibiting Organophosphorus Pesticide: A Short Review of Its Usage, Toxicity, and Biodegradation

“…Profenofos has developmental and reproductive toxicity. It is genotoxic (i.e., DNA‐damaging) to nontarget aquatic and terrestrial organisms such as mice (Fahmy and Abdalla, 1998), fish (e.g., a freshwater fish, Channa punctatus ; rainbowfish [ Melanotaeniidae duboulayi , family Melanotaeniidae]; cladoceran; euryhaline fish; and carp), insects (mosquitoes [ Culex quinquefasciatus ]), and earthworms ( Eisenia fetida ) (Kumar and Chapman, 1998; Woods et al, 2002; Chakra Reddy and Rao, 2008; Kavitha and Rao, 2009; Pandey et al, 2011; Bhinder and Chaudhry, 2014). The pesticide is responsible for both somatic and germ cells’ chromosomal aberration, which demonstrates its potential mutagenicity (Fahmy and Abdalla, 1998).…”

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“…Further complete destruction of nucleus as well as nuclear membrane destruction of mitochondrial membrane, cristae and larger size of vacuoles in cytoplasm was observed in PC, which was well supported by other workers. [10][11] In CurTPE remarkable recovery was observed in the renal cell organelle like nuclear membrane, nucleolus, mitochondrial membrane and cristae. Vacuoles size was found to be enlarged in the cytoplasm in comparison to normal control group mice (Fig.…”