Cloning of a chub metallothionein cDNA and development of competitive RT-PCR of chub metallothionein mRNA as a potential biomarker of heavy metal exposure

Metallothionein has been assayed in a range of aquatic animal tissues as an indicator of metal exposure. We sequenced chub (Leuciscus cephalus) metallothionein cDNA which showed over 90% homology to common carp, goldfish and stone loach and 77% homology to rainbow trout sequences for metallothionein. We then used the extended primer method to develop an accurate quantitative competitive RT-PCR assay for metallothionein mRNA. RT-PCR was used to measure metallothionein mRNA in feral chub from a range of field sites, with different levels of heavy metal pollution, in the West Midlands, UK. Measurements were complemented by analysis of liver and gill metallothionein protein by capillary electrophoresis. There was no significant difference in the metallothionein protein levels between fish of different rivers and there was no evidence of elevation of mRNA at the sites of highest metal exposure. The level of metal exposure (e.g. zinc, nickel and cadmium each ranging between 15 and 28 microg/l ) at the pH (7.5-8.5) of these rivers appears insufficient to elevate hepatic or gill metallothionein in chub. A lack of elevation of hepatic metallothionein mRNA in chub exposed to zinc, copper and manganese for 24 h and 10 days in the laboratory also suggests a non-responsiveness of this species.     

Correlative changes in metabolism and DNA damage in turbot (Scophthalmus maximus) exposed to benzo[a]pyrene

Juvenile turbot (Scophthalmus maximus) were injected intraperitoneally with either corn oil or 5 mg/kg benzo[a]pyrene (BaP) dissolved in corn oil and sampled I and 3 days after injection. After 1 day, no elevation of 7-ethoxyresorufin O-deethylase (EROD) activity was observed, however bile metabolites (BaP-7,8 dihydrodiol representing 70% of the total metabolites) and a single hepatic DNA adduct spot (0.47 adducts/10(8) nucleotides) identified by 32P-postlabelling were formed. No BaP metabolites or DNA adducts were observed in either control or carrier control fish. Fish sampled after 3 days reported 5-fold higher (P < 0.05) levels of EROD activity, a shift in the bile metabolite profile towards BaP phenol formation (1OH and 30H BaP comprising up to 60% of total metabolites detected) and the formation of two adduct spots (0.86 and 0.71 adducts/10(8) nucleotides). These results show that BaP can be metabolised and form hydrophobic DNA adducts in turbot without EROD elevation. Following EROD elevation, a shift in the profile of both BaP metabolites and BaP metabolite-DNA interactions occurs indicative of other oxidative processes.     

地史上巨量蒸发岩省的成因及其地质意义

全球蒸发岩从震旦纪到新近纪均有发育, 其最发育时期为震旦纪-寒武纪、二叠纪-三叠纪以及侏罗纪-白垩纪, 且具有幕式分布特点.它们在一定区域(低纬区)常大规模集中发育, 跨越不同的沉积盆地类型, 面积和厚度巨大, 时代跨度较短且连续, 笔者称之为巨量蒸发岩省.本文基于全球蒸发岩层系古板块再造、沉积岩相恢复、地层柱状对比、盆地构造分析等方法, 对巨量蒸发岩省的发育、分布、成因及其地质意义进行了探讨.巨量蒸发岩省形成、分布与地史中的造山带演化、超大陆的聚合与裂解、干旱气候带(南北纬30°之间)、海平面变化等因素有着密切联系; 其主要形成于干旱环境下相对封闭、靠海水潜流补给的台地和盆地中; 所处的构造单元主要为泛大陆板块内部狭长的裂谷带、特提斯造山带的残余洋盆、海-陆过渡带、陆表海或孤立板块的台地中心.     

A Model for Structure Formation Seeded by Gravitationally Produced Matter

The Arecibo H i Strip Survey probed the halos of approximately 300 cataloged galaxies and the environments of approximately 14 groups with sensitivity to neutral hydrogen masses >/=107 M middle dot in circle. The survey detected no objects with properties resembling the high-velocity clouds (HVCs) associated with the Milky Way or Local Group. If the HVCs were typically MHi=107.5 M middle dot in circle objects distributed throughout groups and galaxy halos at distances of approximately 1 Mpc, the survey should have made approximately 70 HVC detections in groups and approximately 250 detections around galaxies. The null detection implies that HVCs are deployed at typical distances of 相似文献   

通过地球物理和地质技术加强成熟区的综合勘探

Ｆｒｉｇｇ／Ｈｉｅｍｄａｌ成熟区位于挪威地区的象限２５处,目前该区已有十个发现。大多数地区进行了三维地震勘探,这样的密度有利于多学科的综合研究。