Isoform-specific quantification of metallothionein in the terrestrial gastropod Helix pomatia. I. Molecular, biochemical, and methodical background

 Published in 2004

Dallinger,R.; Chabicovsky,M.; Berger,B.; The biomarker concept is an important approach of modern ecotoxicology based on the detection and quantification of molecular, biochemical, cellular, or physiological alterations in organisms as the result of exposure to toxic compounds. In the present study, the biomarker potential of two metallothionein (MT) isoforms from hepatopancreas and mantle tissue of the Roman snail, Helix pomatia L., is evaluated. This species possesses two MT isoforms with specific functions: The Cd-specific isoform (Cd-MT) is predominantly induced and expressed in the hepatopancreas upon Cd exposure. [Read More]

Isoform-specific quantification of metallothionein in the terrestrial gastropod Helix pomatia. II. A differential biomarker approach under laboratory and field conditions

 Published in 2004

Dallinger,R.; Chabicovsky,M.; Lagg,B.; Schipflinger,R.; Weirich,H.G.; Berger,B.; The two function-specific metallothionein (MT) isoforms characterized from the midgut gland and mantle tissue of Helix pomatia differ substantially in their metal-binding preferences, as well as molecular and biochemical features. These differences make them potential candidates for biomarker studies based on a differential, isoform-specific approach. To prove this hypothesis, induction experiments with two metals (Cd and Cu) that are normally bound by the two isoforms were compared with a range of organic chemicals and physical stressors under laboratory conditions to test the responsiveness of the two isoforms to the stressors applied. [Read More]

Mitochondrial DNA control region sequences from Nairobi (Kenya): inferring phylogenetic parameters for the establishment of a forensic database

 Published in 2004

Brandstätter,A.; Peterson,C.T.; Irwin,J.A.; Mpoke,S.; Koech,D.K.; Parson,W.; Parsons,T.J.; Large forensic mtDNA databases which adhere to strict guidelines for generation and maintenance, are not available for many populations outside of the United States and western Europe. We have established a high quality mtDNA control region sequence database for urban Nairobi as both a reference database for forensic investigations, and as a tool to examine the genetic variation of Kenyan sequences in the context of known African variation. [Read More]

Monitoring the inheritance of heteroplasmy by computer-assisted detection of mixed basecalls in the entire human mitochondrial DNA control region

 Published in 2004

Brandstätter,A.; Niederstätter,H.; Parson,W.; The entire mitochondrial DNA control region (approximately 1122 bp) of 270 blood samples (135 mother-child pairs) was determined by direct sequencing. Overall, 135 ‘generational events’ were screened and within these, 20 mother-offspring pairs demonstrated more than 1 mtDNA haplotype. In 13 families, differences in the haplotypes between mother and offspring were detected in the form of heteroplasmic substitutions. Intergenerational comparisons led to the identification of three heteroplasmic point mutations and eight heteroplasmic length mutations affecting the children only. [Read More]