@article{hannas_wang_thomson_kwon_li_leblanc_2011, title={Regulation and dysregulation of vitellogenin mRNA accumulation in daphnids (Daphnia magna)}, volume={101}, ISSN={["1879-1514"]}, DOI={10.1016/j.aquatox.2010.11.006}, abstractNote={The induction of vitellogenin in oviparous vertebrates has become the gold standard biomarker of exposure to estrogenic chemicals in the environment. This biomarker of estrogen exposure also has been used in arthropods, however, little is known of the factors that regulate the expression of vitellogenin in these organisms. We investigated changes in accumulation of mRNA products of the vitellogenin gene Vtg2 in daphnids (Daphnia magna) exposed to a diverse array of chemicals. We further evaluated the involvement of hormonal factors in the regulation of vitellogenin expression that may be targets of xenobiotic chemicals. Expression of the Vtg2 gene was highly responsive to exposure to various chemicals with an expression range spanning approximately four orders of magnitude. Chemicals causing the greatest induction were piperonyl butoxide, chlordane, 4-nonylphenol, cadmium, and chloroform. Among these, only 4-nonylphenol is recognized to be estrogenic. Exposure to several chemicals also suppressed Vtg2 mRNA levels, as much as 100-fold. Suppressive chemicals included cyproterone acetate, acetone, triclosan, and atrazine. Exposure to the estrogens diethylstilbestrol and bisphenol A had little effect on vitellogenin mRNA levels further substantiating that these genes are not induced by estrogen exposure. Exposure to the potent ecdysteroids 20-hydroxyecdysone and ponasterone A revealed that Vtg2 was subject to strong suppressive control by these hormones. Vtg2 mRNA levels were not significantly affected from exposure to several juvenoid hormones. Results indicate that ecdysteroids are suppressors of vitellogenin gene expression and that vitellogenin mRNA levels can be elevated or suppressed in daphnids by xenobiotics that elicit antiecdysteroidal or ecdysteroidal activity, respectively. Importantly, daphnid Vtg2 is not elevated in response to estrogenic activity.}, number={2}, journal={AQUATIC TOXICOLOGY}, author={Hannas, Bethany R. and Wang, Ying H. and Thomson, Susanne and Kwon, Gwijun and Li, Hong and LeBlanc, Gerald A.}, year={2011}, month={Jan}, pages={351–357} }
 @article{hannas_leblanc_2010, title={Expression and ecdysteroid responsiveness of the nuclear receptors HR3 and E75 in the crustacean Daphnia magna}, volume={315}, ISSN={["0303-7207"]}, DOI={10.1016/j.mce.2009.07.013}, abstractNote={Ecdysteroids initiate signaling along multiple pathways that regulate various aspects of development, maturation, and reproduction in arthropods. Signaling often involves the induction of downstream transcription factors that either positively or negatively regulate aspects of the pathway. We tested the hypothesis that crustaceans express the nuclear receptors HR3 (ortholog to vertebrate ROR) and E75 (ortholog to vertebrate rev-erb) in response to ecdysteroid signaling. HR3 and E75 cDNAs were cloned from the crustacean Daphnia magna. The DNA-binding domain and ligand-binding domain of the daphnid HR3 were 95% and 61% identical to those of Drosophila melanogaster. The DNA-binding domain and ligand-binding domain of the daphnid E75 were 100% and 71% identical to those of D. melanogaster. Both receptors exhibited structural characteristics of binding to DNA as a monomer. The expression of these receptor mRNAs was evaluated through the adult molt cycle and during embryo development. E75 levels were relatively constant throughout the adult molt cycle and through embryo development. HR3 levels were comparable to those of E75 during the initial phases of the adult molt cycle but were elevated approximately 30-fold at a time in the cycle co-incident with the pre-molt surge in ecdysteroid levels. HR3 mRNA levels in embryos also varied co-incident with ecdysteroid levels. To substantiate a role of ecdysteroids in the expression of HR3, daphnids were continuously exposed to 20-hydroxyecdysone and changes in gene expression were measured. HR3 levels were significantly induced by 20-hydroxyecdysone; while E75 levels were minimally affected. These results are consistent with the premise that transcription of HR3 is regulated by ecdysteroids in the crustacean D. magna and that HR3 likely serves as a mediator of ecdysteroid regulatory action in crustaceans. The marginal induction of E75 by 20-hydroxyecdysone may represent limited, tissue or cell-type-specific induction of this transcription factor.}, number={1-2}, journal={MOLECULAR AND CELLULAR ENDOCRINOLOGY}, author={Hannas, Bethany R. and LeBlanc, Gerald A.}, year={2010}, month={Feb}, pages={208–218} }
 @article{hannas_wang_baldwin_li_wallace_leblanc_2010, title={Interactions of the crustacean nuclear receptors HR3 and E75 in the regulation of gene transcription}, volume={167}, ISSN={["1095-6840"]}, DOI={10.1016/j.ygcen.2010.03.025}, abstractNote={Endocrine signal transduction occurs through cascades that involve the action of both ligand-dependent and ligand-independent nuclear receptors. In insects, two such nuclear receptors are HR3 and E75 that interact to transduce signals initiated by ecdysteroids. We have cloned these nuclear receptors from the crustacean Daphnia pulex to assess their function as regulators of gene transcription in this ecologically and economically important group of organisms. Both nuclear receptors from D. pulex (DappuHR3 (group NR1F) and DappuE75 (group NR1D)) exhibit a high degree of sequence similarity to other NR1F and NR1D group members that is indicative of monomeric binding to the RORE (retinoid orphan receptor element). DappuE75 possesses key amino acid residues required for heme binding to the ligand-binding domain. Next, we developed a gene transcription reporter assay containing a luciferase reporter gene driven by the RORE. DappuHR3, but not DappuE75, activated transcription of the luciferase gene in this system. Co-transfection experiments revealed that DappuE75 suppressed DappuHR3-dependent luciferase transcription in a dose-dependent manner. Electrophoretic mobility shift assays confirmed that DappuHR3 bound to the RORE. However, we found no evidence that DappuE75 similarly bound to the response element. These experiments further demonstrated that DappuE75 prevented DappuHR3 from binding to the response element. In conclusion, DappuHR3 functions as a transcriptional activator of genes regulated by the RORE and DappuE75 is a negative regulator of this activity. DappuE75 does not suppress the action of DappuHR3 by occupying the response element but presumably interacts directly with the DappuHR3 protein. Taken together with the previous demonstration that daphnid HR3 is highly induced by 20-hydroxyecdysone, these results support the premise that HR3 is a major component of ecdysteroid signaling in some crustaceans and is under the negative regulatory control of E75.}, number={2}, journal={GENERAL AND COMPARATIVE ENDOCRINOLOGY}, author={Hannas, Bethany R. and Wang, Ying H. and Baldwin, William S. and Li, Yangchun and Wallace, Andrew D. and LeBlanc, Gerald A.}, year={2010}, month={Jun}, pages={268–278} }
 @article{hannas_das_li_leblanc_2010, title={Intracellular Conversion of Environmental Nitrate and Nitrite to Nitric Oxide with Resulting Developmental Toxicity to the Crustacean Daphnia magna}, volume={5}, ISSN={1932-6203}, url={http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0012453}, DOI={10.1371/journal.pone.0012453}, abstractNote={Background Nitrate and nitrite (jointly referred to herein as NOx) are ubiquitous environmental contaminants to which aquatic organisms are at particularly high risk of exposure. We tested the hypothesis that NOx undergo intracellular conversion to the potent signaling molecule nitric oxide resulting in the disruption of endocrine-regulated processes. Methodology/Principal Findings These experiments were performed with insect cells (Drosophila S2) and whole organisms Daphnia magna. We first evaluated the ability of cells to convert nitrate (NO3 −) and nitrite (NO2 −) to nitric oxide using amperometric real-time nitric oxide detection. Both NO3 − and NO2 − were converted to nitric oxide in a substrate concentration-dependent manner. Further, nitric oxide trapping and fluorescent visualization studies revealed that perinatal daphnids readily convert NO2 − to nitric oxide. Next, daphnids were continuously exposed to concentrations of the nitric oxide-donor sodium nitroprusside (positive control) and to concentrations of NO3 − and NO2 −. All three compounds interfered with normal embryo development and reduced daphnid fecundity. Developmental abnormalities were characteristic of those elicited by compounds that interfere with ecdysteroid signaling. However, no compelling evidence was generated to indicate that nitric oxide reduced ecdysteroid titers. Conclusions/Significance Results demonstrate that nitrite elicits developmental and reproductive toxicity at environmentally relevant concentrations due likely to its intracellular conversion to nitric oxide.}, number={8}, journal={PLoS ONE}, publisher={Public Library of Science (PLoS)}, author={Hannas, Bethany R. and Das, Parikshit C. and Li, Hong and LeBlanc, Gerald A.}, editor={Pan, XiaopingEditor}, year={2010}, month={Aug}, pages={e12453} }