2003 Volume 3 Issue 1 Pages 12-29
We analysed the gene expression pattern of Saccharomyces cerevisiae in response to lindane, a strong toxicant widely used as a pesticide in agriculture and by public health services. cDNA preparations from untreated cells and from cells treated with lindane were used to screen the DNA microarrays of about 6, 000 genes. A total of 288 genes showed >2-fold induction in transcript levels, out of which 112 have not yet been characterized. The functional analysis of most known genes indicates that genes involved with mitochondrial dysfunction, oxidative stress, ionic homeostasis, mitochondrial organization, or biogenesis responded to lindane-mediated stress. In addition, several induced genes were shown to contribute to ER-mediated degradation and quality control. However, no significant changes in the transcript levels of ORFs related to DNA damage and repair were observed. Furthermore, the mRNA levels of some uncharacterized genes are significantly high, and the unveiling of these genes, along with that of known genes, might provide the opportunity to illustrate how yeast responds to environmental perturbation. This analysis will also facilitate the identification of some specific genes that could be used as biomarkers for a toxicity assay of lindane or other similar environmental pollutants.
