title: Cloning, characterization and cadmium inducibility of metallothionein in the testes of the mudskipper Boleophthalmus pectinirostris.
abstract: Metallothioneins (MTs) are cysteine-rich, low molecular weight, and heavy metal-binding protein molecules. MT participates in metallic homeostasis and detoxification in living animals due to its abundant cysteine. In order to investigate the functions of MT during spermiogenesis in the mudskipper (Boleophthalmus pectinirostris), we identified the MT complete which contains: an 83bp 5' untranslated region, a 110bp 3' untranslated region, and a 183bp open reading frame. The protein alignment between MT sequences of other species shows a high similarity and a strong identity in cysteine residues vital for the metal-binding affinity of MT. The localizations of MT were mainly in the cytoplasm of germinal cells, indicating a role in spermatogenesis and testis protection. After the cadmium (Cd) exposure, the testis presents abnormal morphology and MT mRNA expression, both of which indicate a sensitive response of testis MT to Cd. Therefore, we suggest that MTs play an important role in spermatogenesis and testes protection against Cd toxicity in B. pectinirostris.
authors.affiliation: School of Marine Sciences, Ningbo University, Ningbo, Zhejiang 315211, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Ying-Li
authors.initials: YL
authors.lastname: Han
authors.affiliation: School of Marine Sciences, Ningbo University, Ningbo, Zhejiang 315211, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Zhang
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Sheng
authors.affiliation: School of Marine Sciences, Ningbo University, Ningbo, Zhejiang 315211, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Guo-Di
authors.initials: GD
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: School of Marine Sciences, Ningbo University, Ningbo, Zhejiang 315211, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Ling-Li
authors.initials: LL
authors.lastname: Long
authors.affiliation: School of Marine Sciences, Ningbo University, Ningbo, Zhejiang 315211, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: You-Fa
authors.initials: YF
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: The Sperm Laboratory, College of life Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310058, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Wan-Xi
authors.initials: WX
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: School of Marine Sciences, Ningbo University, Ningbo, Zhejiang 315211, People's Republic of China. Electronic address: zhujunquan@nbu.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Jun-Quan
authors.initials: JQ
authors.lastname: Zhu
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D002104:Cadmium / Q000633:toxicity*; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D005399:Fishes / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000502:physiology; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D008668:Metallothionein / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000502:physiology; D023421:Models, Animal; D012313:RNA / Q000378:metabolism; D000077278:RNA, Mitochondrial; D013091:Spermatogenesis / Q000502:physiology*; D013737:Testis / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000633:toxicity*
chemical_list: D000077278:RNA, Mitochondrial; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D002104:Cadmium; D012313:RNA; D008668:Metallothionein
keywords: Boleophthalmus pectinirostris; Cadimium; Metallothionein; Testes