Environmental Pollutant Induced Epigenetic Predisposition to Developmental Defects and Cancer Phenotypes in the Progeny

Hexavalent Chromium, Cr(VI), exposure is known to cause cancer and is a significant human health concern. While the effect of Cr(VI) exposure on exposed individuals is well studied, long-term effects of the same on the progeny of exposed individual are not known. In this study, using Drosophila model system, we show that Cr(VI) exposure of mothers leads to phenotypic variations in the progeny who have never been exposed to Cr(VI). These phenotypic variations arise due to epigenetic instability in the somatic tissues of the progeny rather than novel genetic mutations. Using a Drosophila cancer model system, we also show that maternal Cr(VI) exposure can lead to cancer phenotypes in the progeny and the propensity to cause cancer phenotypes in the progeny is fixed in the population for at least three generations. Thus, we show for the first time that effects of Cr(VI) exposure can last for several generations. This study also lays the foundation to use Drosophila model system to provide novel insights into Cr(VI) and other heavy metal toxicity. Total mRNA profiles of ovaries from heads of Kr[If-1] flies with and without phenotypes.