English (United Kingdom)

https://curated-unify.zendy.io/wp-json/zendy-region/v1/featured_content/oa?rat=en

https://curated-unify.zendy.io/wp-json/zendy-region/v1/highlighted_journal/

Global: Zendy Plus annual

Presents the access of premium content as premium feature

Premium Content

Presents the keyphrase highlighting as premium feature

Keyphrase Highlighting

Presents the summarisation as premium feature

Summarisation

Insights

Presents the pdf analysis as premium feature

PDF Analysis

Presents the zaia usage as premium feature

ZAIA

Global: Zendy Plus monthly

Global: Zendy Tools annual

Global: Zendy Tools monthly

Global: Zendy Free Plan

The terrestrial Roman snail  Helix pomatia  has successfully adapted to strongly fluctuating conditions in its natural soil habitat. Part of the snail’s stress defense strategy is its ability to express Metallothioneins (MTs). These are multifunctional, cysteine-rich proteins that bind and inactivate transition metal ions (Cd 2+ , Zn 2+ , Cu + ) with high affinity. In  Helix pomatia  a Cadmium (Cd)-selective, inducible Metallothionein Isoform (CdMT) is mainly involved in detoxification of this harmful metal. In addition, the snail CdMT has been shown to also respond to certain physiological stressors. The aim of the present study was to investigate the physiological and diurnal variability of  CdMT  gene expression in snails exposed to Cd and non-metallic stressors such as desiccation and oxygen depletion.  CdMT  gene expression was upregulated by Cd exposure and desiccation, whereas no significant impact on the expression of  CdMT  was measured due to oxygen depletion. Overall, Cd was clearly more effective as an inducer of the  CdMT  gene expression compared to the applied non-metallic stressors. In unexposed snails, diurnal rhythmicity of  CdMT  gene expression was observed with higher mRNA concentrations at night compared to daytime. This rhythmicity was severely disrupted in Cd-exposed snails which exhibited highest  CdMT  gene transcription rates in the morning. Apart from diurnal rhythmicity, feeding activity also had a strong impact on  CdMT  gene expression. Although underlying mechanisms are not completely understood, it is clear that factors increasing  MT  expression variability have to be considered when using MT mRNA quantification as a biomarker for environmental stressors.

Physiological, Diurnal and Stress-Related Variability of Cadmium-Metallothionein Gene Expression in Land Snails