ACS-22, a protein homologous to mammalian fatty acid transport protein 4, is essential for the control of the toxicity and translocation of multi-walled carbon nanotubes in Caenorhabditis elegans

作者：Zhi, Lingtong; Fu, Wei; Wang, Xiong; Wang, Dayong^*

来源：RSC Advances, 2016, 6(5): 4151-4159.

DOI：10.1039/c5ra23543j

• IN-VIVO TRANSLOCATION
• GRAPHENE OXIDE
• PULMONARY TOXICITY
• TARGETED ORGANS
• CRUCIAL ROLE
• BARRIER
• SAFETY
• MICE
• MICRORNAS
• MECHANISM

Biodistribution and translocation are important for the generation of the toxicity of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) in organisms. However, we know little about the molecular mechanisms of MWCNT translocation. In Caenorhabditis elegans, the acs-22 gene encodes a protein homologous to mammalian FATP4 (fatty acid transport protein 4). In this study, we employed a C. elegans in vivo assay system to investigate the possible function of ACS-22 in regulating the toxicity and translocation of MWCNTs. Prolonged exposure to MWCNTs significantly decreased transcriptional expression of the acs-22 gene. Loss-of-function mutation of the acs-22 gene strengthened MWCNT toxicity to the functions of both primary targeted organs such as intestine and secondary targeted organs such as neurons and reproductive organs; however, overexpression of the acs-22 gene reduced the toxicity of MWCNTs to the functions of both primary and secondary targeted organs. Loss-of-function mutation of the acs-22 gene enhanced the distribution and translocation of MWCNTs in both primary and secondary targeted organs, whereas overexpression of the acs-22 gene inhibited the distribution of MWCNTs in primary targeted organs and prevented translocation of MWCNTs into secondary targeted organs. Moreover, our results demonstrated the important function of ACS-22 in intestine to be in limiting the toxicity and translocation of MWCNTs. Therefore, our data suggest an essential role of ACS-22 in regulating the toxicity and translocation of MWCNTs in nematodes. Our results will provide important clues for further examination of the molecular mechanisms of translocation of MWCNTs in organisms.

• 出版日期2016
• 单位东南大学