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Mercury-Dependent Inhibition of Selenoenzymes and Mercury Toxicity

  • Nicholas V. C. Ralston
  • Alexander Azenkeng
  • Laura J. Raymond
Chapter
First Online:
Part of the Current Topics in Neurotoxicity book series (Current Topics Neurotoxicity, volume 2)

Abstract

Selenoenzymes are required to prevent and reverse oxidative damage in the brain and neuroendocrine system, but these enzymes are vulnerable to irreversible inhibition by methylmercury (MeHg). Selenoenzyme inhibition appears likely to cause most if not all of the pathological effects of mercury toxicity. This biochemically based understanding seems to explain why certain tissues are affected by mercury, why the latency effect is unique to mercury poisoning, why selenium status is inversely related to mercury toxicity, why fetal exposures are so much more harmful than adult exposures, and why prenatal inhibition of selenoenzymes by high MeHg results in sustained loss of their activities.

Keywords

Fetal Brain MeHg Exposure Mercury Toxicity Neuroendocrine Tissue High MeHg 
These keywords were added by machine and not by the authors. This process is experimental and the keywords may be updated as the learning algorithm improves.
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Notes

Acknowledgments

This article was prepared by the University of North Dakota under award No. NA09NMF4520176 from National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce. The statements, findings, conclusions, and recommendations are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the funding agency.

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Copyright information

© Springer Science+Business Media, LLC  2012

Authors and Affiliations

  • Nicholas V. C. Ralston
    • 1
  • Alexander Azenkeng
    • 1
  • Laura J. Raymond
    • 1
  1. 1.Energy & Environmental Research CenterUniversity of North DakotaGrand ForksUSA

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