Gene expression of Tetrahymena thermophila SB210 under the arsenic exposure

To identified the differential expressed genes between the arsenic exposure cells and wild type cells As is a well- known carcinogen, it receives special attention. Due to its ubiquitous distribution in the environment, a unicellular model system related to the environment will be useful in toxicological research of arsenic. The eukaryotic protist Tetrahymena thermophila is a well-established model in classical toxicology and now a potential model at genomic level. In the present study, Tetrahymena thermophila was inbred with arsenate. With the use of microarray technique, the genes differentially expressed at 4 time points in exposure to arsenate were screened out. The major biological processes involved and their changes over time were identified with enrichment analysis and transformed expression data. Characteristics of arsenic toxicity and response to arsenic were identified, proving T. thermophila a good unicellular model for arsenic toxicological research at genomic level. Total 4 arsenic exposure samples, and 4 wild type samples as controls