Altered gene expression linked to germline dysfunction following exposure of Caenorhabditis elegans to DEET

N,N-diethyl-meta-toluamide (DEET) is a commonly used synthetic insect repellent. Although the neurological effects of DEET have been widely investigated, its effects on the germline are less understood. Here, we show that exposure of the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans, which is highly predictive of...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:iScience 2024-01, Vol.27 (1), p.108699-108699, Article 108699
Main Authors: Shin, Nara, Lascarez-Lagunas, Laura I., Henderson, Ayana L., Martínez-García, Marina, Karthikraj, Rajendiran, Barrera, Victor, Sui, Shannan Ho, Kannan, Kurunthachalam, Colaiácovo, Mónica P.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Biological sciences
Cell biology
Environmental toxicology
Molecular toxicology
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Summary:N,N-diethyl-meta-toluamide (DEET) is a commonly used synthetic insect repellent. Although the neurological effects of DEET have been widely investigated, its effects on the germline are less understood. Here, we show that exposure of the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans, which is highly predictive of mammalian reprotoxicity, resulting in internal DEET levels within the range detected in human biological samples, causes activation of p53/CEP-1-dependent germ cell apoptosis, altered meiotic recombination, chromosome abnormalities, and missegregation. RNA-sequencing analysis links DEET-induced alterations in the expression of genes related to redox processes and chromatin structure to reduced mitochondrial function, impaired DNA double-strand break repair progression, and defects during early embryogenesis. We propose that Caenorhabditis elegans exposure to DEET interferes with gene expression, leading to increased oxidative stress and altered chromatin structure, resulting in germline effects that pose a risk to reproductive health. [Display omitted] •C. elegans DEET levels, within the range in many human samples, impairs meiosis•DEET compromises genomic integrity by deregulating meiotic recombination•DEET exposure causes chromosomal abnormalities and impairs early embryogenesis•Redox and chromatin genes link DEET to mitochondrial and germline dysfunction Biological sciences; Environmental toxicology; Molecular toxicology; Cell biology
ISSN:2589-0042
2589-0042
DOI:10.1016/j.isci.2023.108699