Projects / Programmes
Use of yeast for determination of toxicity of selected neonicotinoids on the genome level
| Code |
Science |
Field |
Subfield |
| 1.08.00 |
Natural sciences and mathematics |
Control and care of the environment |
|
| Code |
Science |
Field |
| P003 |
Natural sciences and mathematics |
Chemistry |
neonicotinoides, yeast, toxicity tests, genomics, genetic networks
Researchers (10)
Organisations (3)
Abstract
We will perform a toxicological study addressing the effects of neonicotinoids and their main degradation products on the model eukaryotic organism – yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Due to the extensive studies over the last years, yeast is one of the best understood organisms on the molecular level, which presents an advantage for studying the influence of different chemical substances on the evolutionarily conserved cellular processes. As a eukaryotic organism, the organisation of cellular processes in yeast resembles that of higher organisms. In addition, yeast adapts readily to different changes in their environment, including those caused by pollution or the release of different toxic substances into the environment. Neonicotinoids are rather new systemic insecticides with high structural similarity to nicotine – a tobacco-derived toxin. Like nicotine, neonicotinoids act as agonists at the insect nicotinic acetylcholine receptor. In the proposed study, we will examine the effect of the neonicotinoid insecticides imidacloprid and acetamiprid as well as their degradation products on the growth rate of every single deletion mutant of yeast S. cerevisiae. Spectrum of mutants with significantly changed growth rates, selected following the addition of particular neonicotinoid into growth medium, will determine which cellular processes are affected by neonicotinoids. Based on these results, we will be able to construct genetic networks that could explain the mechanism of action of neonicotinoids in the model eukaryotic organism, yeast S. cerevisiae. Our results will then be compared to a broad spectrum of published data regarding yeast gene interaction network and the effects of different perturbation on yeast cell physiology [http://www.yeastgenome.org]. Based on this comparison, we will define the mechanism of action of neonicotinoids in yeast as well as predict possible effects of environmental exposure of non-target organisms to neonicotinoids. For the isolation and detection of neonicotinoids, classical analytic methods will be used, such as solid-phase extraction, liquid-liquid or liquid-solid extraction, in combination with gas and liquid chromatography using different detectors.
Significance for science
Neonicotinoid insecticides are now one of the most widely used group of insecticides, but also one of the groups of insecticides, which are a part of the controversy talks about whether their use is generally safe or not. Finally, some products in Europe has already withdrawn from use, but in Slovenia, for example, we returned again to the application some products having regard to the specific procedures of application. Toxicity testing of neonicotinoid insecticides on different test organisms, such as terrestrial crabs, water fleas, etc.. has been running for many years, and the results show very different responses depending on the test organisms, and according to the different plant protection products of the same main ingredient, neonicotinoid. And because of the diversity of both target organisms and the biological processes potentially affected by them, it is important for determining the impact of pure substances as well as additives, which are usually added to the plant protection products on the cellular physiology and the use of an integrated model cells (genomic) approach to get as broad aa possible range of targets of action. In this context this is not important just for neonicotinoid insecticides, but also with all other plant protection products.
Significance for the country
The results will contribute to better understanding of the mode of action of pure neonicotinoids and glyphosate, specific additives, and combinations of them in the plant protection products. Due to the high systemic characteristics of those insecticides and herbicide and their chemical properties (water solubility, persistence in the soil, photochemical (non)stability, etc.) they represent a potential risk of contamination of food, especially agricultural products, since they do not stay only on the surface but they penetrate into the whole fruit.
Potential users of the results obtained are also regulators and the control laboratories in the field of water supply, environmental protection and food quality and last but not least, the manufacturers of insecticides (also the Slovenian), which may use these data as a base for planning and developing new insecticides, which will be more environmentally friendly.
Most important scientific results
Annual report
2008,
final report,
complete report on dLib.si
Most important socioeconomically and culturally relevant results
Annual report
2008,
final report,
complete report on dLib.si
