DNA microarray analysis of gene expression in mice treated with the cyanobacterial toxin, cylindrospermopsin.

Abstract

Cyanobacteria (blue-green algae) produce toxins which present health hazards to water safety. These toxins include microcystins (MCYSTs), nodularins, saxitoxins, anatoxin-a(s), and cylindrospermopsin (CYN). They are structurally diverse and their effects range from liver damage to neurotoxicity. MCYSTs have been found in aquatic environments in all of the world's continents, and CYN is commonly being detected in many regions of the world. There is considerable information available on the chemistry and toxicology of MCYSTs (Duy et al., 2000). In contrast, relatively little is known about CYN, especially in terms of its toxic mechanisms (Humpage et al., 2000; Shaw et al., 2000; Shen et al., 2002).