Atrazine exposure decreases the activity of DNMTs, global DNA methylation levels, and dnmt expression.

ABSTRACT: Atrazine, a herbicide used on agricultural crops is widely applied in the Midwestern United States as well as other areas of the globe. Atrazine frequently contaminates potable water supplies and is a suspected endocrine disrupting chemical. Previous studies have reported morphological, hormonal, and molecular alterations due to developmental and adulthood atrazine exposure; however, studies examining epigenetic alterations are limited. In this study, the effects of atrazine exposure on DNA methyltransferase (DNMT) activity and kinetics were evaluated. Global DNA methylation levels and dnmt expression in zebrafish larvae exposed to 0, 3, or 30 parts per billion (ppb) atrazine throughout embryogenesis was then assessed. Results indicate that atrazine significantly decreased the activity of

SUBMITTER: Wirbisky-Hershberger SE 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5656531 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature