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Title: The Ahr2-Dependent wfikkn1 Gene Influences Zebrafish Transcriptome, Proteome, and Behavior

Journal Article · · Toxicological Sciences
 [1];  [1];  [1];  [1]; ORCiD logo [1];  [2]; ORCiD logo [3];  [4];  [4];  [5]; ORCiD logo [5]; ORCiD logo [1]
  1. Oregon State Univ., Corvallis, OR (United States). The Sinnhuber Aquatic Research Laboratory
  2. Oregon State Univ., Corvallis, OR (United States). The Sinnhuber Aquatic Research Laboratory; Dartmouth College, Lebanon, NH (United States). Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Norris Cotton Cancer Center
  3. Oregon State Univ., Corvallis, OR (United States). The Sinnhuber Aquatic Research Laboratory; Pacific Northwest National Lab. (PNNL), Richland, WA (United States)
  4. Oregon State Univ., Corvallis, OR (United States)
  5. North Carolina State Univ., Raleigh, NC (United States). Bioinformatics Research Center

The aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR) is required for vertebrate development and is also activated by exogenous chemicals, including polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD). AHR activation is well-understood, but roles of downstream molecular signaling events are largely unknown. From previous transcriptomics in 48 h postfertilization (hpf) zebrafish exposed to several PAHs and TCDD, we found wfikkn1 was highly coexpressed with cyp1a (marker for AHR activation). Thus, we hypothesized wfikkn1’s role in AHR signaling, and showed that wfikkn1 expression was Ahr2 (zebrafish ortholog of human AHR)-dependent in developing zebrafish exposed to TCDD. To functionally characterize wfikkn1, we made a CRISPR-Cas9 mutant line with a 16-bp deletion in wfikkn1’s exon, and exposed wildtype and mutants to dimethyl sulfoxide or TCDD. 48-hpf mRNA sequencing revealed over 700 genes that were differentially expressed (p < .05, log2FC > 1) between each pair of treatment combinations, suggesting an important role for wfikkn1 in altering both the 48-hpf transcriptome and TCDD-induced expression changes. Mass spectrometry-based proteomics of 48-hpf wildtype and mutants revealed 325 significant differentially expressed proteins. Functional enrichment demonstrated wfikkn1 was involved in skeletal muscle development and played a role in neurological pathways after TCDD exposure. Mutant zebrafish appeared morphologically normal but had significant behavior deficiencies at all life stages, and absence of Wfikkn1 did not significantly alter TCDD-induced behavior effects at all life stages. In conclusion, wfikkn1 did not appear to be significantly involved in TCDD’s overt toxicity but is likely a necessary functional member of the AHR signaling cascade.

Research Organization:
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), Richland, WA (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
National Institutes of Health (NIH); USDOE
Grant/Contract Number:
AC05-76RL01830
OSTI ID:
1878287
Report Number(s):
PNNL-SA-169011
Journal Information:
Toxicological Sciences, Journal Name: Toxicological Sciences Journal Issue: 2 Vol. 187; ISSN 1096-6080
Publisher:
Oxford University PressCopyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

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