The effects of cadmium on expression of the dDnmt2 anddMBD2/3 genes in Drosophila melanogaster
Author of the article:GUAN De-Long LIANG Lu ZHANG Min**
Author's Workplace：College of Life Sciences, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi’ an 710062, China
Key Words： cadmium, Drosophila melanogaster, DNA methylation system genes, hereditability
Abstract： [Objectives] To investigate the effects of heavy metal cadmium (Cd) on the expression of DNA methylation-related genes, and discuss potential epigenetic variation caused by cadmium stress and its heritability in Drosophila melanogaster. [Methods] Unmated male and female flies < 8 h old were collected and incubated in culture medium containing different concentrations of Cd (0.0, 0.9375, 1.875, 3.75, 7.5, 15.0, 30.0, 60.0 mg/kg) for 10 days. Quantitative Real-time PCR was used to detect the mRNA expression of the DNA methylation-related genes, dDnmt2 and dMBD2/3 in the reproductive system of parental (F0) flies with Cd treatment and their offspring (F1) without Cd. [Results] Cadmium stress can up-regulate the expresion of dDnmt2 and dMBD2/3 in the ovaries and testes and these changes continue to the next generation (F1). [Conclusion] Expression of dDnmt2 and dMBD2/3 in D. melanogaster is positively correlated with cadmium exposure. This may due to the DNA methylation modification process associated with epigenetic variation in D. melanogaster.