Cellular Effects of Microplastic Leachate Exposure on Schizosaccharomyces pombe fission yeast
Start Date
April 2024
Location
2nd floor - Library
Abstract
Microplastic exposure is a forthcoming issue in both environmental and human health. They have the ability to enter cells, damaging genetic material and causing cellular dysfunction. We investigated cellular physiological responses when exposed to polystyrene microplastic leachate using Schizosaccharomyces pombe. Using fission yeast 527 wild type, 8380 rad52-mCherry, and 9719 rad52-GFP strains, we completed imaging, viability, and survival assays using concentrated cell cultures. S. pombe cells from each strain were cultured for 3 hours in both a microplastic leachate-YES treatment solution and a YES only control solution. Imaging was done with 1x concentrated cell cultures under microscopy to examine cellular dimensional analysis, as well as fluorescent quantification for the mCherry and GFP strains. The concentrated cell cultures were also utilized to determine viability and survival of each strain according to treatment status. After incubation and a 2-week monitoring period, the viability and survival plates of microplastic-treated cells demonstrated decreased viability and cellular death. By utilizing rad52 strains that highlight the creation of proteins responsible for DNA double strand break repair, microplastic-induced DNA strand breaks could be recognized—an indicator of cellular oxidative stress. This study demonstrates the harm to living organisms as a result of exposure to microplastic leachates, specifically through physiological harm due to oxidative stress. With increasing exposure to microplastics through household items, tobacco products, and water and air pollution it is crucial to understand the underlying cellular damage occurring, thus mechanisms and synergistic effects with other common toxicants must be studied going forward.
Cellular Effects of Microplastic Leachate Exposure on Schizosaccharomyces pombe fission yeast
2nd floor - Library
Microplastic exposure is a forthcoming issue in both environmental and human health. They have the ability to enter cells, damaging genetic material and causing cellular dysfunction. We investigated cellular physiological responses when exposed to polystyrene microplastic leachate using Schizosaccharomyces pombe. Using fission yeast 527 wild type, 8380 rad52-mCherry, and 9719 rad52-GFP strains, we completed imaging, viability, and survival assays using concentrated cell cultures. S. pombe cells from each strain were cultured for 3 hours in both a microplastic leachate-YES treatment solution and a YES only control solution. Imaging was done with 1x concentrated cell cultures under microscopy to examine cellular dimensional analysis, as well as fluorescent quantification for the mCherry and GFP strains. The concentrated cell cultures were also utilized to determine viability and survival of each strain according to treatment status. After incubation and a 2-week monitoring period, the viability and survival plates of microplastic-treated cells demonstrated decreased viability and cellular death. By utilizing rad52 strains that highlight the creation of proteins responsible for DNA double strand break repair, microplastic-induced DNA strand breaks could be recognized—an indicator of cellular oxidative stress. This study demonstrates the harm to living organisms as a result of exposure to microplastic leachates, specifically through physiological harm due to oxidative stress. With increasing exposure to microplastics through household items, tobacco products, and water and air pollution it is crucial to understand the underlying cellular damage occurring, thus mechanisms and synergistic effects with other common toxicants must be studied going forward.
