Toxicological Study and Genetic Basis of BTEX Susceptibility in Drosophila melanogaster

Abstract

Benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene and xylene, also known as BTEX, are released into environmental media by petroleum product exploratory and exploitative activities and are harmful to humans and animals. Testing the effects of these chemicals on a significantly large scale requires an inexpensive, rapidly developing model organism such as Drosophila melanogaster. In this study, the toxicological profile of benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, p-xylene, m-xylene, and o-xylene in D. melanogaster was evaluated. Adult animals were monitored for acute toxicity effects. Similarly, first instar larvae reared separately on the same compounds were monitored for the ability to develop into adult flies (eclosion). Further, the impact of fixed concentrations of benzene and xylene on apoptosis and mitosis were investigated in adult progenitor tissues found in third instar larvae. Toluene is the most toxic to adult flies with an LC 50 of 0.166 mM, while a significant and dose-dependent decrease in fly eclosion was observed with benzene, p-xylene, and o-xylene. An increase in apoptosis and mitosis was also observed in animals exposed to benzene and p-xylene. Through Genome Wide Association Screening (GWAS), 38 regions of the D. melanogaster genome were identified as critical for responses to p-xylene. This study reveals the strength of D. Melanogaster genetics as an accessible approach to study BTEX compounds.

Motor dysfunction in Drosophila melanogaster as a biomarker for developmental neurotoxicity

“…However, motor activity returned to pre-exposure levels when the vapor was removed from the air, indicating a transient effect ( Tatum-Gibbs et al., 2015 ). Although acute toxicity studies have been performed in Drosophila ( Adebambo et al., 2020 ; Bushnell et al., 2017 ; Tatum-Gibbs et al., 2015 ), to the best of our knowledge, no DNT studies with TOL were described so far, for this model. Neurotoxicity has been identified by inhalation studies in humans and animals as a critical endpoint ( Cruz et al., 2014 ).…”

Motor Dysfunction in Drosophila Melanogaster as a Biomarker for Developmental Neurotoxicity

“…Although acute toxicity studies have been performed in Drosophila (Adebambo et al, 2020;Bushnell et al, 2017;Tatum-Gibbs et al, 2015), to the best of our knowledge, no DNT studies with TOL were described so far, for this model. Neurotoxicity has been identified by inhalation studies in humans and animals as a critical endpoint (Cruz et al, 2014).…”

Oxidative and radiation stress induces transposable element transcription in Drosophila melanogaster

“…For toluene treatment, flies were maintained three days in medium containing 50 mM toluene. The toluene concentration which results in 50% mortality (LC 50 ) is 0.166 mM (Adebambo et al., 2020). For dioxin treatment, 0.822 mM 2,3,7‐tetrachlorodibenzo‐p‐dioxin was added to the medium, and flies were maintained for three days in this medium.…”