Does exposure to mitochondrial toxicants during germ cell development result in lifelong alterations in mitochondrial function mediated by epigenetic changes?

越来越多的证据表明，某些化学物质对线粒体功能的毒性作用可能非常大。 坚持不懈。这一点至关重要，因为线粒体功能会影响与慢性疾病相关的组织表型。 代谢性疾病、癌症、神经退行性疾病和生殖障碍等疾病。 因此，影响线粒体的暴露可能会导致这些情况。持之以恒的可能性 对生殖细胞和配子暴露的影响可能特别大，因为线粒体经历了 生殖系增殖和配子产生过程中的生物发生和主要功能变化。此外， 对细胞功能有长期影响的表观遗传模式在同一时间被重新编程 框架。我们将验证以生殖细胞线粒体为目标的污染物暴露会导致 在持续的表观遗传变化中逃脱胚胎重新编程并改变对 控制后代线粒体新陈代谢的途径。我们将测试六个重要的线粒体 毒物：砷、鱼藤酮、甲基汞、吡虫菊酯、溴虫菊酯和有机磷农药 阻燃剂磷酸三苯酯。我们还将测试饮食限制是否会改善线粒体 而卡路里超载会产生相反的效果，会改变这些结果。如果是这样的话，这将既是 加强我们对这些化学物质的毒性影响的机械性理解，并提供可能的 治疗方法。这项工作将在线虫秀丽线虫中开展 非常发达的线粒体和表观遗传工具，快速的寿命，最关键的是， 基因和其他工具的可用性，使我们能够机械地测试观察到的 表观遗传和转录改变。最终，这些知识将提高我们减少 先入为主的暴露对线粒体的有害影响既是通过预防(即减少暴露) 和治疗(即改变线粒体功能的药物和生活方式干预)。

Growing evidence suggests that the toxic effects of certain chemicals on mitochondrial function can be highly persistent. This is critical because mitochondrial function influences organismal phenotypes related to chronic diseases such as metabolic diseases, cancers, neurodegenerative diseases, and reproductive disorders. Therefore, exposures affecting mitochondria could contribute to these conditions. The likelihood of persistent effects may be especially great for exposures of germ cells and gametes, because mitochondria undergo biogenesis and major functional changes during germline proliferation and gamete production. Furthermore, epigenetic patterns that can have long-term effects on cellular function are reprogrammed in the same time frame. We will test the hypothesis that pollutant exposures targeting mitochondria in germ cells result in persistent epigenetic changes that escape embryonic reprogramming and alter regulation of pathways governing mitochondrial metabolism in offspring. We will test six important mitochondrial toxicants: arsenic, rotenone, methyl mercury, pyraclostrobin, chlorfenapyr, and the organophosphate flame retardant triphenyl phosphate. We will also test whether dietary restriction, which improves mitochondrial function, and caloric overload, which has the opposite effect, will alter these outcomes. If so, this would both reinforce our mechanistic understanding of the toxic effects of these chemicals, and provide a possible therapeutic approach. This work will be carried out in the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans to take advantage of very well-developed mitochondrial and epigenetic genetic tools, a rapid lifespan, and, most critically, the availability of genetic and other tools that will allow us to mechanistically test the causality of observed epigenetic and transcriptomic changes. Ultimately, this knowledge will improve our ability to reduce the deleterious mitochondrial impacts of preconception exposures both by prevention (i.e., reduced exposures) and treatment (i.e., pharmacological and lifestyle interventions to alter mitochondrial function).