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.     

国外地质调查机构经费构成、队伍规模及影响因素

一个国家地质调查机构的经费构成、投入规模和地质队伍规模主要取决于该国的国情,并与其所处的社会经济发展阶段和社会需求密切相关,在一定程度上反映了国家的经济发展水平和社会发展阶段。此外,还受国家体制、国土面积、人口、矿产资源丰富程度和矿业在国民经济中的地位、自然灾害     

国外矿产资源研究的主要发展趋势

可持续发展概念的提出,要求今天的经济社会发展再不能以大范围的环境恶化和资源枯竭为代价。为此,向矿产资源研究提出了全新的挑战,要求相关研究人员调整其科研方向,以确保国家经济和生态安全,这     

区域地球化学异常空间分形结构及其意义——以浙江省诸暨地区区域地球化学数据为例

区域地球化学数据既具有确定性的特征 ,又具有随机性的特征 ,从而地球化学异常的空间分布具有标度不变性的特征 ,即空间分形结构。本文运用元素含量 等值线面积模型、元素含量的周长与面积模型 ,查明区域地球化学异常分形结构 ,初步探讨了其形成机制 ,并讨论了元素含量与等值线面积的空间分形模型用于划分地球化学异常与背景的意义。     

大西洋中脊超镁铁质岩中热液硫化物中的合金—铜组合

发育于超镁铁质岩基底上的Ｌｏｇａｔｃｈｅｖ热液活动区的硫化物,表现出富铜和富锌矿物组合的双峰式分布特点,二者均有较高的金含量。富铜的火山口号有现为一种不同寻常的洼地地貌,少有筒状结构。富铜样品显示出主要为金－铜矿物组合以及小规模交代和再造作用过程中金富集的证据。火山口地貌、Ａｕ／Ａｇ值以及硫化作用状态表明,在富铜样品中,金不是以Ａｕ（ＳＨ）２＾－的形式运移的。     

21世纪前20年世界地质工作重大事件、重大成果与未来30年中国地质工作发展的思考

在21世纪前20年里,以页岩气、页岩油、天然气水合物和干热岩为代表的非常规能源勘查开发取得重大突破,美国因页岩气勘查开发取得突破实现了能源独立。随着全球经济发展、气候变化加剧和能源转型,对关键金属矿产的需求不断增加,世界各国强势推出关键矿产清单,力求保障本国资源安全。深海探测、地球深部探测取得新进展。地球系统科学成为当代地质科学主题,形成了一批新概念,例如地质多样性、关键带、人类世、临界要素等,引领地质工作的转型。展望未来30年,世界百年未有之大变局加速演进,人类将面临资源、环境、生态的重大挑战,地质工作正处于重大转折时期。中国地质工作要突出清洁能源和深海资源勘探开发,要建立基于生态系统的地质调查、监测、模拟与预测技术体系,开展自然资源综合调查,支撑服务国土空间规划、生态保护和修复及城市建设,促进地质工作转型和发展。