Assessing the effects of an acute exposure to worst-case concentration of Cry proteins on zebrafish using the embryotoxicity test and proteomics analysis

Cry1C, Cry1F and Cry1Ab are insecticidal proteins from Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) which expressed in transgenic crops. Given the entry of these into aquatic environments, it is relevant to evaluate their impacts on organisms. In this work, we sought effects zebrafish embryos larvae a predicted worst-case scenario concentration (set 1.1 mg/L). For that, coupled traditional toxicity approach (the embryotoxicity test dosage enzymatic biomarkers) gel free proteomics analysis. At tested, did not cause adverse early life stages, either by verifying phenotypic endpoints or alterations representative biomarkers (catalase, glutathione-S-tranferase lactate-dehydrogenase). molecular level, Cry tested lead very small changes proteome larvae. global way, upregulated expression vitellogenins. Besides Cry1C e deregulated heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoproteins (Hnrnpa0l Hnrnpaba, respectively), implicated mRNA processing gene regulation. Overall, data conclusion that proteins, even at high concentration, have limited stages life.