Differential gene expression in C. reinhardtii after exposure to cerium nanoparticles

• In Event: Cell and Molecular Biology Oral Session & Section Meeting

Abstract

With the growing use of engineered nanoparticles (ENP), it is crucial to determine their impact on eukaryotic cells. CeO2 nanoparticles are used commercially as a diesel fuel additive and are emitted in particulate phase. Cerium has been found to have adverse health effects, though there are no known effects of cerium nanoparticles. CeO2 nanoparticles are water soluble and has evidence of absorption by certain crops. To examine the impact of cerium nanoparticles on eukaryotic cells, the unicellular algal model organism Chlamydomonas reinhardtii was exposed to CeO2/CeO2 nanoparticles. To characterize transcriptomic responses RNAseq analysis was conducted. Transcriptomes were sequenced using Illumina technology, resulting reads mapped to reference genome using STAR, and differential expression analyzed with DESeq2. The literature on the engineered nanoparticulate cerium leads us to hypothesize pathways regulating cell cycle and protein metabolism will be differentially expressed in response to nanoparticle exposure.

Author

• Analise Roth, St. Edward's University