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Heavy Metal-Induced Differential Gene Expression of Metallothionein in Javanese Medaka, Oryzias javanicus

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Abstract

A metallothionein (MT) gene was isolated for the first time from Javanese medaka, Oryzias javanicus, which shows high adaptability from freshwater to seawater. The full-length cDNA of MT from O. javanicus (OjaMT) comprises 349 bp, excluding the poly(A)+ stretch, and codes for a total of 60 amino acids. The positions of cysteine residues are highly conserved. The pattern of OjaMT expression induced by six heavy metals was analyzed via real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The level of hepatic OjaMT mRNA was increased in a dose-dependent manner by Ag, Cd, Cu, and Zn after 24 h of exposure. However, after Cr and Ni exposure, a significant decrease in OjaMT levels was observed. Cadmium-induced OjaMT expression was detectable in fishes as young as 3 months. After Cd exposure, OjaMT induction was prominent in intestine and liver and moderate in muscle and gill. OjaMT mRNA levels could represent a good biomarker for monitoring heavy metals in seawater.

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Acknowledgments

We thank Dr. J. Koyama of Kagoshima University for generously providing Javanese medaka eggs. We also thank Mr. Gi Myung Han for excellent technical assistance in Javanese medaka culture. This work was supported by a Korea Research Foundation Grant funded by the Korea Government (MOEHRD, Basic Research Promotion Fund, KRF-2005-217-C00013) and the Korea Ocean Research & Development Institute (PE97105).

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  1. Southern Coastal Environment Research Division, Korea Ocean Research and Development Institute, Geoje, 656-830, Korea

    Seonock Woo, Seungshic Yum, Jee Hyun Jung, Won Joon Shim, Chang-Hoon Lee & Taek-Kyun Lee

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  1. Seonock Woo
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  2. Seungshic Yum
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Correspondence to Seungshic Yum.

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Woo, S., Yum, S., Jung, J.H. et al. Heavy Metal-Induced Differential Gene Expression of Metallothionein in Javanese Medaka, Oryzias javanicus . Mar Biotechnol 8, 654–662 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10126-006-6046-0

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