Carbofuran Abrogates the Membrane Ca++-atpase Activity in Liver: the Role of Cholesterol - Carbofuran Abrogates the Membrane Ca++-atpase Activity in Liver: the Role of Cholesterol - Open Access Pub

Carbofuran is a broad spectrum pesticide used in agricultural fields and domestic places throughout the world. It is one of the deadly toxic carbamate pesticide that kills the pest by inhibiting the crucial enzyme of nervous system known as acetyl cholinesterase. In the present study, we report how carbofuran increases the different spectrum of cholesterols, including free cholesterol and esterified cholesterol in the fish hepatocytes. It is observed that induced-cholesterol can inhibit the enzymatic activity such as Ca++-ATPase, which is a critical protein for maintaining the calcium homoeostasis in the cellular microenvironment. Carbofuran integrates into human body through foods and drinks. As trace of carbofuran is identified in our daily food and drinks, we examined the homology of Ca++-ATPase between the fish and human, so our data can illuminate the effects of carbofuran on this crucial enzyme. While studying the homology with the help of bioinformatics, we recognized that there is around 70% homology in the protein sequence of Ca++-ATPase between fish Heteropneustesfossilisand human (Homo sapiens), which appears as sufficient to simulate our fish-model data in human. This study demonstrates that carbofuran affects our day-to-day life by inhibiting Ca++-ATPase through modulation of lipid synthesis, a critical regulatory system that controls overall homeostasis in our body. DOI10.14302/issn.2326-0793.jpgr-13-333 Carbofuran (trade name is furadon) is one the most commonly used pesticide in agricultural fields and domestic places 1. The mechanism of its toxic action is mediated through irreversible binding of a crucial enzyme of nervous system known as acetyl cholinesterase, which breaks the acetylcholine in acetic acid and choline in physiological system2. The extended half life of carbofuran on the soil ecosystem makes it more venerable to disperse from one ecosystem to other 1. Surprisingly, traces of carbofuran were detected in the foods and drinks, which is consumed day-to-day in our life 3, 4, 5. The biochemical structure of carbofuran is similar to steroid hormone with an organic benzene nucleus which makes it a more lipophilic compound 6. New study revealed that carbofuran can disrupt the steroid hormone homoeostasis by binding its receptor and inducing a mock signaling 1. Abnormal sperm count was observed upon intake of carbofuran in rat model 7. Chronic exposure to this pesticide seemed to exert a carcinogenic effect on the baby in mother’s womb 5, 7, 8. A mood disorder was observed to the patients, which might be due to its ability of