|
(58-08) Differential gene expression due to heavy metal environmental exposure in wood mouse. Caturla Goņi, Mercč*,1, De Coen, An1, Scheirs, Jan2, Mubiana, Valentine1, Verhagen, Ron2, Blust, Ronny1, De Coen, Wim1, 1 Department of Biology, Ecophysiology, Biochemistry and Toxicology group, Antwerp, Belgium, Belgium2 Department of Biology, Evolutionary Biology group, Antwerp, Belgium, Belgium ABSTRACT- Metals are widely distributed in environmental compartments and of concern because of their toxic effects displaying various modes of action. The aim of the present study was to evaluate differential toxicant induced changes in gene expression in wood mouse (Apodemus Sylvaticus). For that purpose, different study areas within an existing pollution gradient have been selected. Soil samples as well as mice were collected in these areas and metal concentrations were determined in both matrices using ICP-AES and ICP-MS. Based on this chemical analysis a clear overview of the degree of metal contamination was obtained and the areas could be divided in high contaminated and low-contaminated areas. In order to isolate differentially expressed genes, the suppression subtractive hybridization (SSH) technique has been used. Two RNA populations have been compared, a control sample, from a pool of low-contaminated mouse lungs, and a target sample, from highly contaminated mouse lungs. After the subtracted cDNA library was obtained, the inserts were sequenced and amplified by PCR, to generate arrays on membrane filters for differential hybridization with subtracted and total cDNA probes. A set of the partial cDNAs that are induced during exposure in the pollution gradient are being characterised. Some of those genes might be related to DNA damage as evidenced also in comet assays performed in blood samples of these mice. Metallothionein expression levels were also measured in the mice lungs. Integrating genomics and the biochemical assays can provide information concerning the function of the toxicant-induced genes. Key words: biomarkers, mouse, differential gene expression, metals |
