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Gene expression in Xenopus embryos after methylmercury exposure: A search for molecular biomarkers
Author(s) -
Monetti Claudio,
Vigetti Davide,
Prati Mariangela,
Sabbioni Enrico,
Bernardini Giovanni,
Gornati Rosalba
Publication year - 2002
Publication title -
environmental toxicology and chemistry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.1
H-Index - 171
eISSN - 1552-8618
pISSN - 0730-7268
DOI - 10.1002/etc.5620211229
Subject(s) - methylmercury , xenopus , gene , biology , gene expression , protein subunit , mercury (programming language) , differential display , embryo , microbiology and biotechnology , computational biology , genetics , biochemistry , ecology , bioaccumulation , computer science , programming language
Mercury is a major issue in environmental health, as it can be biotransformed to methylmercury, accumulate into aquatic organisms, and enter the food chain. Therefore, we searched for molecular markers for methylmercury exposure comparing, by differential display, exposed Xenopus embryos to controls. We found two genes whose expression is completely inhibited by CH 3 HgCl, and we propose them as biomarkers of exposure. The first transcript appears to be a novel gene, with a short region similar to the human iron‐sulfur subunit of succinate dehydrogenase. The second gene presents a high similarity with the human homeodomain‐interacting protein kinase 3 (HIPK3), a protein that is known to be involved in the apoptotic signaling pathway. These molecular biomarkers could be used to detect very early effects of the metal; furthermore, they could be useful in understanding the molecular mechanisms of mercury toxicity.