Calcium moderation of cadmium stress explored using a stress-inducible transgenic strain of Caenorhabditis elegans

• Published in: Comparative biochemistry and physiology. C, Comparative pharmacology and toxicology Vol. 110; no. 1; pp. 61 - 70
• Main Authors: Guven, Kemal, Duce, Jennifer A., De Pomerai, David I.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Inc 1995
• Subjects: A23187; Animals; Animals, Genetically Modified; beta-Galactosidase - genetics; beta-Galactosidase - metabolism; Cadmium - toxicity; Caenorhabditis elegans; Caenorhabditis elegans - drug effects; Caenorhabditis elegans - genetics; Calcimycin - pharmacology; Calcium; Calcium - pharmacology; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Gene Expression Regulation - drug effects; Gene Expression Regulation - genetics; Genes, Reporter - genetics; Lanthanum - pharmacology; Linear Models; Manganese; Manganese - pharmacology; Mutation - drug effects; Mutation - genetics; Nifedipine - pharmacology; Staining and Labeling; Stress, Physiological - chemically induced; Transgene expression; Verapamil - pharmacology; Zinc; Caenorhabditis elegans; Calcium; Cadmium toxicity; Transgene expression; A23187; Zinc; Manganese
• ISSN: 0742-8413; 1367-8280
• DOI: 10.1016/0742-8413(94)00071-H

In a transgenic strain of Caenorhabditis elegans carrying a stress-inducible lacZ reporter gene, short-term sublethal exposure to heavy metals activates transgene expression. The transgene response to Cd 2+ is strongly inhibited by Ca 2+ ions; furthermore, Ca 2+ reduces the net accumulation of Cd 2+ by worms. Both Ca 2+ and a variety of calcium uptake inhibitors (nifedipine, La 3+, verapamil) depress the dose response of the transgene to Cd 2+. Calcium ionophore (A23187) slightly increases transgene activity in control and Cd 2+ treated worms, but has a much larger effect in the case of Mn 2+, reflecting its much greater affinity for this ion.