title: Calcium moderation of cadmium stress explored using a stress-inducible transgenic strain of Caenorhabditis elegans.
abstract: In a transgenic strain of Caenorhabditis elegans carrying a stress-inducible lacZ reporter gene, short-term sublethal exposure to heavy metals activates transgene expression. The transgene response to Cd2+ is strongly inhibited by Ca2+ ions; furthermore, Ca2+ reduces the net accumulation of Cd2+ by worms. Both Ca2+ and a variety of calcium uptake inhibitors (nifedipine, La3+, verapamil) depress the dose response of the transgene to Cd2+. Calcium ionophore (A23187) slightly increases transgene activity in control and Cd2+ treated worms, but has a much larger effect in the case of Mn2+, reflecting its much greater affinity for this ion.
authors.affiliation: Department of Life Science, University of Nottingham, University Park, U.K.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Guven
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Duce
authors.forename: D I
authors.initials: DI
authors.lastname: de Pomerai
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D030801:Animals, Genetically Modified; D002104:Cadmium / Q000633:toxicity*; D017173:Caenorhabditis elegans / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics; D000001:Calcimycin / Q000494:pharmacology; D002118:Calcium / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000235:genetics; D017930:Genes, Reporter / Q000235:genetics; D007811:Lanthanum / Q000494:pharmacology; D016014:Linear Models; D008345:Manganese / Q000494:pharmacology; D009154:Mutation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics; D009543:Nifedipine / Q000494:pharmacology; D013194:Staining and Labeling; D013312:Stress, Physiological / Q000139:chemically induced; D014700:Verapamil / Q000494:pharmacology; D001616:beta-Galactosidase / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D002104:Cadmium; D000001:Calcimycin; D008345:Manganese; D007811:Lanthanum; D014700:Verapamil; D001616:beta-Galactosidase; D009543:Nifedipine; D002118:Calcium