EFFECT OF PIGMENTS ISOLATED FROM BACTERIA OF ARSENIC CONTAMINATED AREAS ON HSP-70 EXPRESSIONS IN TRANSGENIC TRANSGENIC TRANSGENIC DROSOPHILA MELANOGASTER DROSOPHILA MELANOGASTER DROSOPHILA MELANOGASTER (BG9 )

Abstract

The present study demonstrates the toxic potential of some carotenoid pigments (ADSYR4, ADSYR5 and ADSYR1)
isolated from bacterial population of arsenic prone areas of West Bengal. Drosophila melanogaster (transgenic to
hsp70-lacZ) was used for toxicological assessment of the pigments. 25 % concentration of ADSYR4 triggered
higher HSP70 expression (Score 19) than when treated with 50% pigment concentration (Score 11). Conversely,
other two pigments (ADSYR5 and ADSYR1) showed comparatively greater HSP70 expression at higher pigment
concentration (50%). The scores for ADSYR5 and ADSYR1 at 25% pigment concentration were recorded as 7
and 8 whereas the same at 50% pigment concentration were found as 30 and 11 respectively. This finding claims
that, the carotenoid pigments were pro-oxidative in nature and the efficacy of the pro-oxidative potential depends
on treatment concentrations. Furthermore, use of reporter gene assay from transgenic Drosophila melanogaster,
in this study yet again validates the use of alternative model organisms for toxicological studies.