Earthworm gene as indicator of bioefficacious cadmium

Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications
J WilluhnFrank Wunderlich

Abstract

The expression of a novel Cd-inducible gene encoding a 25 kDa non-metallothionein cysteine-rich protein (CRP) in the earthworm Enchytraeus buchholzi is investigated with respect to Cd-specificity and Cd-sensitivity. The amount of CRP-mRNA correlates with the environmental as well as with the intra-worm Cd-concentration. Even the subtoxic concentration of 100 microgram Cd/1 induces CRP-gene expression. CRP-mRNA is expressed already 2 h after the worms were exposed to Cd. Other heavy metals or stress conditions can induce only little or even no CRP-mRNA. The CRP-gene is switched on long before Cd becomes toxic to worms and can be therefore taken as a warning signal of prospective irreversible Cd-damages at an early, still reversible stage.

Citations

Oct 25, 2002·Environmental Pollution·Ewa Siekierska, Danuta Urbańska-Jasik
Dec 14, 2001·The Journal of Biological Chemistry·Steffen TschuschkeFrank Wunderlich
May 11, 2006·Environmental Science & Technology·F BrulleF Vandenbulcke

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