Putative midkine family protein up-regulation in Patella caerulea (Mollusca, Gastropoda) exposed to sublethal concentrations of cadmium
Vanucci, S.; Minerdi, D.; Kadomatsu, K.; Mengoni, A.; Bazzicalupo, M. (2005). Putative midkine family protein up-regulation in Patella caerulea (Mollusca, Gastropoda) exposed to sublethal concentrations of cadmium. Aquat. Toxicol. 75(4): 374-379. https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.aquatox.2005.08.014
In: Aquatic Toxicology. Elsevier Science: Tokyo; New York; London; Amsterdam. ISSN 0166-445X; e-ISSN 1879-1514, more
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| Keywords |
Acids > Organic compounds > Organic acids > Nucleic acids > DNA
Cell constituents > Chromosomes > Genes
Chemical elements > Metals > Heavy metals > Cadmium
Fauna > Aquatic organisms > Aquatic animals > Shellfish > Marine organisms > Marine molluscs
Warning systems > Alarm systems > Distress signals
Patella caerulea Linnaeus, 1758 [WoRMS]
Marine/Coastal |
| Author keywords |
Patella caerulea; mollusc; midkine; pleiotrophin; distress signal;cadmium; RT-PCR real time |
| Authors | | Top |
- Vanucci, S.
- Minerdi, D.
- Kadomatsu, K.
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- Mengoni, A.
- Bazzicalupo, M.
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| Abstract |
A cDNA sequence of a putative midkine (MK) family protein was identified and characterised in the mollusc Patella caerulea. The midkine family consists of two members, midkine and pleiotrophin (PTN), and it is one of the recently discovered cytokines. Our results show that this putative midkine protein is up-regulated in specimens of P. caerulea exposed to sublethal cadmium concentrations (i.e. 0.5 and 1 mg l−1 Cd) over a 10-day exposure period. Semiquantitative RT-PCR and quantitative Real time RT-PCR estimations indicate elevated expression of midkine mRNA in exposed specimens compared to controls. Moreover, RT-PCR Real time values were higher in the viscera (here defined as the part of the soft tissue including digestive gland plus gills) than in the foot (i.e. foot plus head plus heart) of the limpets. At present, information on the functional signalling significance of the midkine family proteins suggests that the up-regulation of P. caerulea putative midkine family protein is a distress signal likely with informative value on health status of the organism and with potential prognostic capability. |
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