Cadmium tolerance is associated with tissue-specific plasticity of metallothionein gene expression in Gammarus fossarum field populations.

ABSTRACT: The metallothionein gene family codes for proteins involved in metal homeostasis and acute detoxification of non-essential toxic metal ions across the tree of life. We have previously documented increased cadmium (Cd) tolerance in field populations of the crustacean Gammarus fossarum exposed to chronic metallic contamination of geochemical origin. This tolerance is lost during maintenance of organisms in the laboratory, and is transmitted to offspring via parental effects. This study investigated whether the expression of the Cd-responsive metallothionein gene mt1 could be related to Cd-tolerance plasticity in G. fossarum. In eleven populations with different chronic Cd exposure history, we simultaneously assessed Cd-tolerance (mortality tests) and G. fossarum mt1 expression levels by RT-q

SUBMITTER: Lalouette A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12015274 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature