DNA Methylation and Detoxification in the Earthworm <i>Lumbricus terrestris</i> Exposed to Cadmium and the DNA Demethylation Agent 5-aza-2'-deoxycytidine.

ABSTRACT: Earthworms are well-established model organisms for testing the effects of heavy metal pollution. How DNA methylation affects cadmium (Cd) detoxification processes such as the expression of metallothionein 2 (MT2), however, is largely unknown. We therefore exposed Lumbricus terrestris to 200 mg concentrations of Cd and 5-aza-2'-deoxycytidine (Aza), a demethylating agent, and sampled tissue and coelomocytes, cells of the innate immune system, for 48 h. MT2 transcription significantly increased in the Cd- and Cd-Aza-treated groups. In tissue samples, a significant decrease in MT2 in the Aza-treated group was detected, showing that Aza treatment inhibits basal MT2 gene activity but has no effect on Cd-induced MT2 levels. Although Cd repressed the gene expression of DNA-(cytosine-5)-met

SUBMITTER: Aigner GP 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8879108 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature