Transcriptional toxicity of imidazolium- and cholinium-based ionic liquids

Ionic Liquids are a broad group of salts with low melting points that can be specifically tuned for a broad range of applications. Despite being initially considered “green” solvents, their better environmental friendliness compared to traditional solvents has been increasingly challenged. In this study, we aimed to investigate the molecular effects of ILs exposure by using RNA-sequencing to study differential gene expression patterns. Thus, we exposed Daphnia magna to 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride ([C2mim]Cl), 1-dodecyl chloride-3-methylimidazolium ([C12mim]Cl) and cholinium chloride ([Chol]Cl). Results suggest that the three ILs share several mechanisms of toxicity, including cellular membrane and cytoskeleton damage, oxidative stress, inhibition of antioxidant enzymes, mitochondrial affectation, changes in protein biosynthesis and energy production, DNA damage, and ultimately, programmed cell death and disease initiation. Overall, the dataset revealed that [C2mim]Cl and [C12mim]Cl were, respectively, the least and the most toxic ILs at the transcriptional level. Also, it is reinforced that [Chol]Cl is not devoid of environmental hazardous potential. Unique gene expression signatures could also be identified for each IL. Overall design: 12 samples of whole-body mRNA profiles of 48-hours old Daphnia magna: control (3 replicates), exposure to 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride (3 replicates), exposure to 1-dodecyl chloride-3-methylimidazolium (3 replicates) and exposure to cholinium chloride (3 replicates)

离子液体（Ionic Liquids）是一类具有低熔点的广谱盐类，可针对多样化应用场景进行精准定制调控。尽管其最初被视为“绿色”溶剂，但其相较于传统溶剂更优异的环境友好性正日益受到学界质疑。本研究旨在通过RNA测序（RNA-sequencing）分析差异基因表达谱，探究离子液体暴露后的分子效应。据此，我们将大型溞（Daphnia magna）分别暴露于1-乙基-3-甲基咪唑氯盐（[C2mim]Cl）、1-十二烷基-3-甲基咪唑氯盐（[C12mim]Cl）与氯化胆碱（[Chol]Cl）。研究结果显示，三种离子液体共享多种核心毒性机制，包括细胞膜与细胞骨架损伤、氧化应激、抗氧化酶活性抑制、线粒体功能受损、蛋白质生物合成与能量代谢改变、DNA损伤，最终引发程序性细胞死亡与疾病发生。总体而言，本数据集表明[C2mim]Cl与[C12mim]Cl在转录水平上分别为毒性最低和毒性最高的离子液体。此外，本研究进一步证实氯化胆碱（[Chol]Cl）并非无环境危害潜能。每种离子液体均可被鉴定出独特的基因表达特征。整体实验设计：针对48小时龄的大型溞（Daphnia magna）开展全身体mRNA谱分析，共包含12个样本：对照组（3个生物学重复）、1-乙基-3-甲基咪唑氯盐暴露组（3个生物学重复）、1-十二烷基-3-甲基咪唑氯盐暴露组（3个生物学重复）以及氯化胆碱暴露组（3个生物学重复）。