Molecular cloning and characterization of Cpn60 in the free-living nematode Plectus acuminatus.

ABSTRACT: Heat shock proteins (Hsps) have provoked interest not only because of their involvement in human diseases but also for their potential as biomarkers of environmental pollution. Whereas the former interest is covered by numerous reports, the latter is an exciting new field of research. We report the isolation of the full-length cpn60 messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) and partial genomic deoxyribonucleic acid from the free-living, environmental sentinel nematode Plectus acuminatus, a species used in classical ecotoxicity tests. Although the primary sequence displays high identity scores to other nematodes and human Cpn60 (75% and 70%, respectively), the intron-exon structure differs markedly. Furthermore, although mRNA levels remained constant after exposure to ZnCl2 (0-330 microM) under lab

SUBMITTER: Sturzenbaum SR 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC1176475 | biostudies-literature | 2005

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature