title: Identification of five partial ABC genes in the liver of the Antarctic fish Trematomus  bernacchii and sensitivity of ABCB1 and ABCC2 to Cd exposure.
abstract: Several ABC transporters have been characterized from many aquatic organisms, but no information is yet available for Antarctic fish. The aim of this work was to identify the expression of genes for ABC proteins in Trematomus bernacchii, a bioindicator species of the Southern Ocean. Partial cDNA sequences of ABCB1, ABCC1, ABCC2, ABCC4 and ABCC9 were cloned from liver. Using RACE technology, 3.5 and 2.2 kb contigs were obtained for ABCB1 and ABCC2. Considering the elevated natural bioavailability of cadmium at Terra Nova Bay, responsiveness of ABCB1 and ABCC2 to this element was investigated under laboratory conditions. ABCB1 and ABCC2 mRNA levels were approximately four-fold higher in Cd-exposed fish compared to the controls. Induction of ABCB1 protein was also found by western blot. This study provides the first identification of five ABC genes in the liver of an Antarctic key species, some of which may be involved in cellular detoxification.
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental Sciences G. Sarfatti, University of Siena, Via Mattioli 4, 53100 Siena, Italy. zucchi2@unisi.it
authors.forename: Sara
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Zucchi
authors.forename: Ilaria
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Corsi
authors.forename: Till
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Luckenbach
authors.forename: Shannon M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Bard
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Regoli
authors.forename: Silvano
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Focardi
mesh_terms: D018528:ATP-Binding Cassette Transporters / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D000864:Antarctic Regions; D002104:Cadmium / Q000633:toxicity*; D029941:Fish Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D015870:Gene Expression / Q000187:drug effects; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D000089762:Multidrug Resistance-Associated Protein 2; D027425:ATP-Binding Cassette, Sub-Family C Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D010473:Perciformes / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000633:toxicity*
chemical_list: D018528:ATP-Binding Cassette Transporters; D002104:Cadmium; D029941:Fish Proteins; D000089762:Multidrug Resistance-Associated Protein 2; D027425:ATP-Binding Cassette, Sub-Family C Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical