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Metabolomics in Small Fish Toxicology: Assessing the Impacts of Model EDCs
Citation:
COLLETTE, T. W., Q. TENG, K. M. JENSEN, M. D. KAHL, D. MARTINOVIC, DAN VILLENEUVE, G. T. ANKLEY, AND D. R. EKMAN. Metabolomics in Small Fish Toxicology: Assessing the Impacts of Model EDCs . Presented at SETAC North America 30th Annual Meeting, New Orleans, LA, November 19 - 23, 2009.
Impact/Purpose:
The mission of the ERD Metabolomics Team is to study the impact of stressors on various species using NMR and other advanced analytical approaches to characterize changes in endogenous metabolites. The main focus is to define responses in ecologically-relevant organisms (e.g., small fish) upon exposure to potentially toxic xenobiotic chemicals. Results will: determine markers of exposure, define how exposure events are linked to whole-organism outcomes, and provide ORD’s customers with information that aids in risk assessments.
Description:
Although lagging behind applications targeted to human endpoints, metabolomics offers great potential in environmental applications, including ecotoxicology. Indeed, the advantages of metabolomics (relative to other ‘omic techniques) may be more tangible in ecotoxicology because there is often not a sequenced genome available for ecologically relevant species. We are conducting metabolomics studies on small fish, such as the fathead minnow, that are used both as model organisms in ecotoxicology research, and in regulatory testing programs. Our goal is to use information from these studies to meet EPA’s mission to protect ecosystems from potentially harmful effects of chemical pollutants. For example, as part of a project involving a large, interdisciplinary team of scientists from US government, academia, and industry, we are integrating transcriptomic, proteomic, and metabolomic data to describe endocrine disruption in the fathead minnow. We seek to understand how chemical exposures are linked through early molecular changes to whole-organism adverse outcomes and, ultimately, to changes in population status. To achieve this goal, a systems-based approach is being used to define toxicity pathways for model chemicals with well defined modes of action within the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) axis of the fathead minnow. We will describe the unique role that metabolomics plays in this important environmental applications.
URLs/Downloads:
COLLETTE 09 078A_SETAC 2009.PDF (PDF, NA pp, 1018 KB, about PDF)COLLETTE 09 078 SETAC ABSTRACT.PDF (PDF, NA pp, 10 KB, about PDF)