Molecular basis for antioxidant enzymes in mediating copper detoxification in the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans.

ABSTRACT: Antioxidant enzymes play a major role in defending against oxidative damage by copper. However, few studies have been performed to determine which antioxidant enzymes respond to and are necessary for copper detoxification. In this study, we examined both the activities and mRNA levels of SOD, CAT, and GPX under excessive copper stress in Caenorhabditis elegans, which is a powerful model for toxicity studies. Then, taking advantage of the genetics of this model, we assessed the lethal concentration (LC50) values of copper for related mutant strains. The results showed that the SOD, CAT, and GPX activities were significantly greater in treated groups than in controls. The mRNA levels of sod-3, sod-5, ctl-1, ctl-2, and almost all gpx genes were also significantly greater in treated groups tha

SUBMITTER: Song S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4171499 | biostudies-literature | 2014

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature