水生双翅目昆虫监测水体重金属污染的研究

水生双翅目昆虫是监测水体重金属污染的理想对象。文章归纳用于监测重金属污染的水生双翅目昆虫的种类,重点介绍水生双翅目昆虫在重金属污染下外部形态、内部结构、生化及分子水平的变化,以及相关生物标志物的研究,为水生双翅目昆虫用于水体重金属污染的生物监测提供科学依据。     

水生无脊椎动物金属硫蛋白研究进展

金属硫蛋白在水生无脊椎动物中分布广泛、容易被诱导,在水环境生态响应研究中具有重要意义。对水生无脊椎动物金属硫蛋白分类和特性、MT的诱导及影响因素、基因克隆与表达等方面取得的进展进行概述;并对其金属离子调节功能及其在水环境重金属污染监测、重金属污染生物治理和水产养殖等方面的应用潜力进行展望,提出研究中的不足和今后的研究方向。     

斧文蛤金属硫蛋白基因的克隆与表达分析

金属硫蛋白（Metallothionein,MT）是一类富含半胱氨酸的小分子蛋白质,参与机体重金属解毒、维持金属元素代谢平衡以及清除自由基等生理功能。为了解斧文蛤金属硫蛋白（Ml-MT）的分子生物学特征及其在重金属Cd2+胁迫下的响应机制,本文采用RACE技术从斧文蛤（Meretrix lamarckii）总RNA反转录产物中获得了636 bp的Ml-MT cDNA基因序列。该序列包含65 bp的5非编码区（UTR）和340 bp的3非编码区（UTR）以及231 bp的开放阅读框（ORF）,可编码76个氨基酸;其中半胱氨酸占27%,不含芳香族氨基酸,含16个MT所特有的Cys-Xn-Cys结构,预测的分子量约为7.704 kD,理论等电点7.138。MT氨基酸序列比对分析表明:斧文蛤金属硫蛋白（Ml-MT）与丽文蛤（Meretrix lusoria）的相似性高达88%,与文蛤（Meretrix meretrix）的同源性为87%。实时荧光定量（qRT-PCR）检测MT在斧文蛤5种组织中均有表达,但存在组织特异性,其中内脏团表达量最高,其次依次为鳃丝、闭壳肌、外套膜、斧足。在Cd2+（0.13 mg/L）胁迫0、6h、12h、24h、48h、72h和96h下,斧文蛤内脏团MT呈现出不同程度的上调表达,具体表现为高-低-高-低的波浪式变化,除6h以外,其他时间点均与对照组存在极显著差异（P0.01）。本研究表明:MT基因在维护机体正常生理功能及斧文蛤抵御重金属Cd2+胁迫过程中发挥着重要的分子调控作用。     

海洋微塑料污染的生态效应研究进展

海洋微塑料污染已成为全球性环境问题。微塑料粒径小,易与海洋生物发生相互作用,可通过多种途径进入海洋生物体内,并在其组织和器官中蓄积和转移,对机体产生毒害。微塑料可沿食物链进行传递,威胁海洋生态系统的健康与稳定。因此,海洋生物与微塑料的相互作用以及海洋微塑料污染的生态效应成为当前研究的热点。综述微塑料的生物附着、生物摄入、对海洋生物的毒性效应及其与化学污染物的复合毒性效应研究的基础上,提出未来微塑料生态效应研究应重点关注我国海洋环境中微塑料的污染现状及生物摄入状况、微塑料的生物效应及其毒理学机制研究、微塑料与其他污染物的复合效应、以及微塑料在海洋生态系统中的作用及其生物地球化学行为等。     

重金属污染的植物修复及相关分子机制

随着近代工业的发展,土壤重金属污染问题日益严重。重金属即使在极低浓度下仍然可以对人畜造成健康上的威胁,因此迫切需要有效的修复方法对土壤进行修复。生物修复,特别是植物修复目前已经成为重金属污染修复的重要手段之一,了解相关植物的重金属解毒和积累分子机制是提高修复效率、解决重金属污染问题的基础。文中以土壤修复方式为起点,结合植物吸收积累重金属以及解毒的相关分子机制研究,探讨了植物修复的发展现状以及趋势。     

环境重金属污染物的生物有效性

利用生态系统研究了白银有色金属冶炼矿区周围环境中重金属的分布及生物有效性。结果表明 ,工厂在冶炼过程中已造成 Pb、Cd、Cu、Zn对周围环境不同程度的污染 ,其含量与距工厂的距离呈负相关 ;重金属在各种生物体内均有不同程度的吸收和累积 ,其吸收累积量随重金属和生物种类的不同而有差异 ;土壤的污染 ,使农作物和牧草中 Pb、Cd含量超过动物的最大耐受量和中毒的临界值 ;动物研究发现 ,肾脏、骨骼和肝脏是机体内重金属蓄积的主要器官。因此 ,放牧动物可作为环境重金属污染状况的标识 ,对评价重金属环境污染对当地人群的危害也有重要意义     

重金属污染生态学研究现状与展望

重金属污染生态学的研究迄今已有近 5 0 a的历史 ,在土壤重金属元素背景值和环境标准的制定、重金属在环境中的迁移转化、重金属污染治理、元素分析测定方法和规范、对生物体的毒性及生物体的响应等方面取得了很多研究成果 ,出版了很多专著。在对重金属污染生态学研究进行简要回顾的基础上 ,以重金属在生物体内的行为特征 (吸收、迁移、富集、毒害、解毒和抗性等 )为主线 ,从微观和宏观水平 ,系统综述了目前该领域的研究现状 ,分析了尚存在的一些问题 ,最后从生物对重金属污染适应的分子机理、治理方法和技术的创新性、复合污染下环境标准制定的科学化以及重金属污染条件下全球生物进化的趋势预测等方面作了研究展望     

紫羊茅重金属抗性和敏感品种中类金属硫蛋白基因的鉴定及表达初探

重金属对生命机体的作用具有双重性。一方面,作为多数辅酶的辅助因子对细胞的正常代谢必不可少;另一方面,当重金属超过一定的浓度时对细胞有较大的毒性。在长期的进化过程中,生物可能形成一种调节细胞内重金属浓度的机制。这种机制在动物和真菌中被认为同金属硫蛋白(metallothionein,MT)的作用密切相关。植物中也存在类似的与重金属结合的低分子量蛋白(heavy metal binding pep-tide)。最近对拟南芥菜和水稻中类金属硫蛋白(MT-like)基因的研究证实其作用与动物MT相似。紫羊茅品种“Merlin”是一种从锌铅矿区的重金属污染地采集的单子叶草种,对镉和铜的抗性都较高,分别达到50mg/L和30mg/L,而5mg/L Cd~(2 )或2mg/L Cu~(2 )便可抑制敏感品种“S59”的正常生长。目前     

污染胁迫下的蚯蚓蛋白质组学研究进展

随着蛋白质组学的发展和每年有大量环境污染物进入土壤环境中,污染胁迫模式动物的相关生物标志物受到日益关注。蚯蚓,作为土壤中最大的无脊椎动物,是研究和评价土壤生态污染良好的模式动物。研究蚯蚓的蛋白质组学,对于寻找环境生态污染相关生物标志物和阐明生态毒理学机制有着十分重要的现实意义。目前已知的污染胁迫下蚯蚓蛋白质组学研究,提供了几个特定污染物胁迫蚯蚓的蛋白表达谱。这些蛋白涉及许多生物学过程,例如信号传导、糖酵解、能量代谢、分子伴侣和转录调节,提示了相关污染物可能的生态毒理学机制,有望成为潜在的生物标志物,用于有毒污染物的监测,但其特异性需要进一步试验的验证。对蚯蚓受污染胁迫的蛋白质组表达谱及潜在生物标志物进行简要综述。     

铜污染土壤的生物修复研究进展

随着工业化与农业化进程的加快,土壤重金属污染问题日益突出。铜(Cu)既是生命体生长发育的必需微量元素,也是重金属污染物之一。土壤中过量的Cu不仅会对植物产生毒害,而且能够通过食物链的富集作用,对人类健康造成严重威胁。生物修复技术作为治理重金属污染土壤的一种新型技术受到广泛关注。文中对生物修复的主要技术如植物修复、微生物修复、植物-微生物联合修复、动物修复等在治理Cu污染土壤方面的研究进展进行综述,以期为重金属污染土壤有效治理和可持续农业的发展提供理论依据。     

Algal metallothioneins: secondary metabolites and proteins

Metallothioneins, MT's, are low-molecular-weight, cysteine-rich, polypeptides that complex ‘soft’ metal ions in thiol clusters. They are structurally diverse. Some MT's are gene products, while others are secondary metabolites. Two of the three classes of MT have been identified in algae. Eukaryotic algae possess the secondary metabolites referred to as class III MT. There is no unequivocal evidence that MT genes occur in eukaryotic algae. However, the products of MT genes have been identified in cyanobacteria. These genes and their metal regulatory elements remain to be isolated and characterized. MT's have attracted interest from researchers involved in a wide range of disciplines including bioinorganic chemistry, biochemistry, molecular biology, physiology, toxicology, environmental science and medicine. Although, the precise physiological roles of these polypeptides remain undefined, a large number of functions have been speculated. These molecules chelate toxic trace metals, such as Cd, thereby reducing the concentration of cytotoxic, free-metal ions. Furthermore, some MT's are believed to be involved in zinc and copper homoeostasis. Future studies should reveal whether or not some of the diversity of MT structure reflects a diversity of function.     

Toxicological aspects of metallothionein.

Metallothionein (MT) is expressed to a certain extent in almost all mammalian tissues. The biological significance of MT is related to its various forms MT-1, MT-2, MT-3 and MT4. For MT-1 several isoforms of the protein exist and it is likely that these isoforms are related to various functions involved in developmental processes occurring at various stages of gestation. Toxicokinetics and biochemistry of essential and toxic metals such as cadmium, zinc, mercury and copper in organs e.g. kidney, CNS, are often related to metallothionein. It is debated whether there is a relation or not for other metals e.g. selenium and bismuth. For the toxicokinetics of cadmium, MT plays an important role. By expanding techniques from experimental toxicology and biochemistry to include molecular biology methods, more specific and relevant studies can be performed of the actual role and biological function of MT. The present paper on toxicological aspects of metallothionein, presents an overview and evaluation of present knowledge concerning differences among organs and within organs of the expression of MT and how this affects tissue sensitivity to toxicity.     

Challenging the model for induction of metallothionein gene expression

Metallothioneins (MTs) are low-molecular-weight, cysteine-rich metal-binding proteins found in a wide variety of organisms including bacteria, fungi and all eukaryotic plant and animal species. MTs bind essential and non-essential heavy metals. In mammalian cells MT genes are highly inducible by many heavy metals including Zn, Cd, Hg, and Cu. Aquatic systems are contaminated by different pollutants, including metals, as a result of man's activities. Bivalve molluscs are known to accumulate high concentrations of heavy metals in their tissue and are widely used as bioindicators for pollution in marine and freshwater environments, with MTs frequently used as a valuable marker of metal contamination. We here describe the MT isoform gene expression patterns of marine and freshwater molluscs and fish species after Cd or Zn contamination. Contamination was carried out at a river site polluted by a zinc ore extraction plant or in the laboratory at low, environmentally relevant metal concentrations. A comparison for each species based on the accumulated MT protein levels often shows discrepancies between gene expression and protein level. In addition, several differences observed in the pattern of MT gene expression between mollusc and mammalian species enable us to discuss and challenge a model for the induction of MT gene expression.     

Erratum

The biochemical features of metallothioneins and their functional role in the cell are described. On this basis, the potential role of MTs as a biomarker of exposure in aquatic organisms, such as fishes and molluscs, is evaluated in the light of recent knowledge about MT gene regulation and inducibility. It appears that in fish MTs should be considered as a kind of stress protein which is particularly responsive to heavy metals. In molluscs, in particular in mussels, MTs seem more specifically involved in responses to heavy metals and they should therefore be considered a biomarker of exposure to heavy metal pollution. Common techniques for MT evaluation are listed and a simple spectrophotometric method recently developed is also reported. Finally, the correct approach to the use of MTs as a biomarker of exposure in biomonitoring programmes for an assessment of the physiological status of aquatic organisms is discussed.     

Metallothionein as a tool in biomonitoring programmes

The biochemical features of metallothioneins and their functional role in the cell are described. On this basis, the potential role of MTs as a biomarker of exposure in aquatic organisms, such as fishes and molluscs, is evaluated in the light of recent knowledge about MT gene regulation and inducibility. It appears that in fish MTs should be considered as a kind of stress protein which is particularly responsive to heavy metals. In molluscs, in particular in mussels, MTs seem more specifically involved in responses to heavy metals and they should therefore be considered a biomarker of exposure to heavy metal pollution. Common techniques for MT evaluation are listed and a simple spectrophotometric method recently developed is also reported. Finally, the correct approach to the use of MTs as a biomarker of exposure in biomonitoring programmes for an assessment of the physiological status of aquatic organisms is discussed.     

Isolation and characterization of Mytilus edulis metallothionein genes

Metallothioneins (MTs) are crucial proteins in all organisms for the regulation of essential metals and the detoxification of heavy metals. Many studies have estimated MT levels in mussel tissues to detect marine metal pollution. In this study, we investigated the MT gene structures of the forms present in Mytilus edulis (blue mussel). One MT-10 (2413 bp) gene and one MT-20 (1906 bp) gene were obtained. These MT genes contain three exons and two long introns. The splicing signals for MT-10 and MT-20 were GTA(T/A)GT-(C/T)AG. The structural organization (length of intron, splicing signals, AT content) of MT-10 and MT-20 is compared with other MT genes.     

Molecular probes for fluorescent sensing of metal ions in non-mammalian organisms

While metal ions play an important role in the proper functioning of all life, many questions remain unanswered about exactly how different metals contribute to health and disease. The development of fluorescent probes, which respond to metals, has allowed greater understanding of the cellular location, concentration and speciation of metals in living systems, giving a new appreciation of their function. While the focus of studies using these fluorescent tools has largely been on mammalian organisms, there has been relatively little application of these powerful tools to other organisms. In this review, we highlight recent examples of molecular fluorophores, which have been applied to sensing metals in non-mammalian organisms.     

重金属污染环境的植物修复及其分子机制

重金属污染物的排放和扩散造成了日益严重的环境污染。如何消除环境中的重金属污染物已成为国际性难题。近年来,植物修复技术的出现和快速发展为我们展示了一条新的有效途径：即利用植物对重金属化合物的吸收、富集和转化能力去除土壤和水体中残存的重金属污染物。文章简要介绍了重金属污染物与植物修复的关系和植物修复的生理机制,重点总结了重金属污染环境的植物修复在分子生物学方面所取得的研究进展,包括有机汞裂解酶基因merB、汞离子还原酶基因merA和金属硫蛋白基因MT等的生物学功能及其在植物修复上的应用,展望了植物修复研究工作的发展方向,并针对汞污染提出了一套修复方案。     

Metallothionein protein evolution: a miniassay

Metallothionein (MT) evolution is one of the most obscure yet fascinating aspects of the study of these atypical metal-binding peptides. The different members of the extremely heterogeneous MT protein superfamily probably evolved through a web of duplication, functional differentiation, and/or convergence events leading to the current scenario, which is particularly hard to interpret in terms of molecular evolution. Difficulties in drawing straight evolutionary relationships are reflected in the lack of definite MT classification criteria. Presently, MTs are categorized either according to a pure taxonomic clustering or depending on their metal binding preferences and specificities. Extremely well documented MT revisions were recently published. But beyond classic approaches, this review of MT protein evolution will bring together new aspects that have seldom been discussed before. Hence, the emergence of life on our planet, since metal ion utilization is accepted to be at the root of the emergence of living organisms, and global trends that underlie structural and functional MT diversification, will be presented. Major efforts are currently being devoted to identifying rules for function-constrained MT evolution that may be applied to different groups of organisms.