Chemotherapy Drugs Act Differently in the Expression and Somatic Mobilization of the mariner Transposable Element in Drosophila simulans

• Published in: Genes 2022-12, Vol.13 (12), p.2374
• Main Authors: Bernardt, Taís Maus, Treviso, Estéfani Maria, Cancian, Mariana, Silva, Monica de Medeiros, da Rocha, João Batista Teixeira, Loreto, Elgion Lucio Silva
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Alzheimer's disease; Animals; Cancer therapies; Catalase; Catalase - genetics; Chemotherapy; Chronic exposure; Cisplatin; Dacarbazine; Daunorubicin; DNA Transposable Elements - genetics; Drosophila - genetics; Drosophila simulans; Drugs; Females; Gene expression; Genetic variability; Genomes; Insects; Neurodegenerative diseases; Oxidative stress; Potassium; Proteins; Reactive Oxygen Species; Statistical analysis; Transposase; Transposase gene; Transposons; Variance analysis
• ISSN: 2073-4425; 2073-4425
• DOI: 10.3390/genes13122374

Transposable elements (TEs) are abundant in genomes. Their mobilization can lead to genetic variability that is useful for evolution, but can also have deleterious biological effects. Somatic mobilization (SM) has been linked to degenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer's disease and cancer. We used a strain, in which SM can be measured by counting red spots in the eyes, to investigate how chemotherapeutic agents affect expression and SM of the TE. Flies were treated with Cisplatin, Dacarbazine, and Daunorubicin. After acute exposure, relative expression of was quantified by RT-qPCR and oxidative stress was measured by biochemical assays. Exposure to 50 and 100 µg/mL Cisplatin increased expression and ROS levels; catalase activity increased at 100 µg/mL. With chronic exposure, the number of spots also increased, indicating higher SM. Dacarbazine (50 and 100 µg/mL) did not significantly alter expression or mobilization or ROS levels, but decreased catalase activity (100 µg/mL). Daunorubicin (25 and 50 µM) increased expression, but decreased SM. ROS and catalase activity were also reduced. Our data suggest that stress factors may differentially affect the expression and SM of TEs. The increase in transposase gene expression is necessary, but not sufficient for SM.