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Regulation of Metallothionein Gene Expression in the Nematode Caenorhabditis elegans

EPA Grant Number: U915011
Title: Regulation of Metallothionein Gene Expression in the Nematode Caenorhabditis elegans
Investigators: Moilanen, Lorita H.
Institution: Duke University
EPA Project Officer: McClure, Karen
Project Period: January 1, 1996 through July 30, 1999
Project Amount: $102,000
RFA: STAR Graduate Fellowships (1996)
Research Category: Fellowship - Toxicology , Health Effects , Academic Fellowships

Description:

Objective:

The objective of this research project is to identify molecular mechanisms responsible for the regulation of metal-inducible metallothionein (MT) gene expression in the soil nematode Caenorhabditis elegans.

Approach:

The overall strategy is to employ a well-characterized soil organism to probe the regulation of a key gene in metal detoxification and homeostasis. The aim of the research is to identify metal regulatory elements (MREs) within the promoters of two C. elegans MT genes, and isolate and characterize proteins that interact with the candidate MREs. Candidate MREs will be identified by site-directed mutagenesis and deletion experiments. The functional significance of each modification will be determined in vivo (inside the organism) by creating transgenic nematodes containing a ß-galactosidase reporter gene. Changes in the level of pattern of reporter gene activity in cadmium-exposed nematodes will be used to identity functional promoter elements. Metal-dependent interaction of crude extract proteins with candidate MREs will be evaluated by gel mobility shift assay and DNaseI footprinting. Regulatory proteins that interact with candidate MREs will be isolated from extracts prepared from control and cadmium-exposed nematodes using conventional protein isolation techniques and affinity chromatography. Binding characteristics of the isolated proteins will be characterized by gel mobility shift assay, DNaseI footprinting, and Southwestern blotting assays. Each binding protein will be subjected to partial amino acid sequencing. Complementary DNAs (cDNAs) encoding metal-regulatory proteins will be obtained by screening C. elegans expression libraries with oligonucleotides based on the partial amino acid sequence.

Supplemental Keywords:

fellowship, metallothionein, MT, gene expression, soil nematode, Caenorhabditis elegans, metal, metal detoxification, complementary DNAs, metal regulatory element, MRE.

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The perspectives, information and conclusions conveyed in research project abstracts, progress reports, final reports, journal abstracts and journal publications convey the viewpoints of the principal investigator and may not represent the views and policies of ORD and EPA. Conclusions drawn by the principal investigators have not been reviewed by the Agency.

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