Differential expression of metallothionein (MT) gene by trace metals and endocrine-disrupting chemicals in the hermaphroditic mangrove killifish, Kryptolebias marmoratus.
Metallothionein (MT) gene expression was studied in different tissues, development stages and gender types of the mangrove killifish (Kryptolebias marmoratus). MT expression was also studied in a time-series experiment after exposure to trace metals and endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs). The brain showed the highest level of MT transcripts. Although all the development stage showed some level of MT expression, the adult hermaphrodites showed the highest expression which was significantly higher than the secondary males. In the trace metal-exposed fish, cadmium caused the strongest induction of MT. However, other trace metals such as copper and zinc also caused MT gene induction. All the EDCs suppressed the expression of MT gene, and the effect of EDCs were not gender-specific. K. marmoratus has previously shown its suitability as a model species for toxicity studies and cancer research. This study demonstrated utility of MT as biomarker in K. marmoratus. However, confounding factors such as age, gender, and tissue types appear to influence the MT expression. Response of trace and organic pollutants such as EDCs also varied greatly. These observations suggest that MT would be a specific biomarker of trace metal exposure in K. marmoratus and expression would be influenced by intrinsic factors.
Rhee
Jae-Sung
JS
Department of Molecular and Environmental Bioscience, Graduate School, Hanyang University, Seoul 133 791, South Korea.
Raisuddin
Sheikh
S
National Research Laboratory of Marine Molecular and Environmental Bioscience, Department of Chemistry, College of Natural Sciences, Hanyang University, Seoul 133 791, South Korea.
Hwang
Dae-Sik
DS
Department of Molecular and Environmental Bioscience, Graduate School, Hanyang University, Seoul 133 791, South Korea.
Lee
Kyun-Woo
KW
National Research Laboratory of Marine Molecular and Environmental Bioscience, Department of Chemistry, College of Natural Sciences, Hanyang University, Seoul 133 791, South Korea.
Kim
Il-Chan
IC
Polar BioCenter, Korea Ocean Research and Development Institute, Incheon 406 840, South Korea.
Lee
Jae-Seong
JS
National Research Laboratory of Marine Molecular and Environmental Bioscience, Department of Chemistry, College of Natural Sciences, Hanyang University, Seoul 133 791, South Korea. Electronic address: jslee2@hanyang.ac.kr.
D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D001947:Breeding; D002104:Cadmium / Q000633:toxicity*; D003300:Copper / Q000633:toxicity*; D003530:Cyprinidae / Q000235:genetics*; D005123:Eye / Q000187:drug effects; D023781:Fundulidae / Q000235:genetics*; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects*; D057850:Hermaphroditic Organisms; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D008668:Metallothionein / Q000235:genetics*; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D009928:Organ Specificity; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D019849:Sex Determination Processes / Q000235:genetics; D012867:Skin / Q000187:drug effects; D014131:Trace Elements / Q000633:toxicity; D015032:Zinc / Q000633:toxicity*
D014131:Trace Elements; D002104:Cadmium; D003300:Copper; D008668:Metallothionein; D015032:Zinc