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Characterisation and potential role of metallothioneins in marine mammals
Das, Krishna; Jacob, Valérie; Debacker, Virginie et al.
2000In Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology, 126A (Supp. 1), p. 37
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Keywords :
marine mammals; metallothioneins
Abstract :
[en] In the framework of a North Sea and adjacent areas monitoring, metallothioneins (MTs) have been studied in livers and kidneys of 8 marine mammals species collected on the Belgian coast and in the Northeast Atlantic between 1993 and 2000: the harbour porpoise Phocoena phocoena , the harbour seal Phoca vitulina, the white beaked dolphin Lagenorhynchus albirostris, the white sided dolphin Lagenorhynchus acutus, the sperm whale Physeter macrocephalus, the fin whale Balaenoptera physalus, the common dolphin Delphinus delphis and the striped dolphin Stenella coeruleoalba. The participation of this protein in metal detoxification has been investigated since high levels of cadmium (Cd) and mercury (Hg) have been measured in livers and kidneys of those marine mammals. It appears that MT concentrations vary widely in marine mammals tissues (from 50 to more than 2000 µg.g–1 dw) underlying the numerous parameters involved: species, tissue, physiological status, pregnancy, age, diet and metal level. The percentage of the cytosolic Cd bound to MTs can reach almost 100%. On the contrary, the percentage of hepatic and renal Hg bound to MT is very low (generally less than 10 %) and this metal is mainly associated with selenium (HgSe) under a detoxified form in the insoluble fraction of the tissues. Characterisation of renal MTs of white-sided dolphin has been performed: the protein has two isoforms (MT-1 and MT-2) with a molecular weight estimated around 6800. MT-1 can bind Cu, Zn, Hg and Cd while MT-2 only binds Zn, Hg and Cd suggesting different metabolic functions for the two isoforms. MT-2 was also more abundant than MT-1. To conclude, MTs appear to play a minor role in the binding and detoxification of Hg by marine mammals. On the contrary, close and dynamic interactions occur between Cd and MTs. White-sided dolphin metallothioneins has two isoforms likely characterised by different metabolic functions in relation with cellular homeostasis and cadmium detoxification.
Research center :
MARE - Centre Interfacultaire de Recherches en Océanologie - ULiège
Disciplines :
Environmental sciences & ecology
Aquatic sciences & oceanology
Author, co-author :
Das, Krishna  ;  Université de Liège - ULiège > Département des sciences et gestion de l'environnement > Océanologie
Jacob, Valérie
Debacker, Virginie ;  Université de Liège - ULiège > Département des sciences et gestion de l'environnement > Ecologie animale et écotoxicologie - Ecophysiologie et physiologie animale
Millerioux, Gaëlle
Biondo, Renzo ;  Université de Liège - ULiège > Département des sciences et gestion de l'environnement > Océanologie
Gerardin, Nicole ;  Université de Liège - ULiège > Département des sciences de la vie > Labo de biochimie
Bouquegneau, Jean-Marie ;  Université de Liège - ULiège > Département des sciences et gestion de l'environnement > Océanologie
Language :
English
Title :
Characterisation and potential role of metallothioneins in marine mammals
Publication date :
July 2000
Event name :
European Society for Comparative Physiology and Chemistry
Event place :
Liège, Belgium
Event date :
24-28 juillet 2000
Audience :
International
Journal title :
Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology
Volume :
126A
Issue :
Supp. 1
Pages :
s37
Peer reviewed :
Peer reviewed
Funders :
FRIA - Fonds pour la Formation à la Recherche dans l'Industrie et dans l'Agriculture [BE]
BELSPO - SPP Politique scientifique - Service Public Fédéral de Programmation Politique scientifique
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since 08 July 2010

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