Decreased Accumulation of Cadmium in Drosophila Selected for Resistance Suggests a Mechanism Independent of Metallothionein

Austin H Nguyen; Laura E Altomare; Mary C McElwain

doi:10.1007/s12011-014-0037-1

Decreased Accumulation of Cadmium in Drosophila Selected for Resistance Suggests a Mechanism Independent of Metallothionein

Austin H Nguyen, Laura E Altomare, Mary C McElwain

Biology

Loyola Marymount University

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

Heavy metals, including cadmium, are common contaminants in environments subject to human activity.

Responses to exposure in the fruit fly, Drosophila melanogaster, are dosage-dependent and resistance is selectable. While metallothionein-mediated sequestration has been extensively studied as a mechanism of cadmium resistance, a link between selection for resistance and an increased accumulation of cadmium has yet to be demonstrated. To address this need, we have selected wild-type flies for cadmium resistance for 20 generations and tested metal content using mass spectrometry. Resistant flies were observed to contain lower levels of cadmium, arguing for a mechanism of cadmium resistance that is not mediated by increased sequestration. This, coupled with genetic evidence suggesting the involvement of factors located on the X chromosome, suggests a gene other than metallothionein may be involved in resistance in this line.

Original language	English
Journal	Biol Trace Elem Res
Volume	160
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1007/s12011-014-0037-1
State	Published - Jun 15 2014

Keywords

Drosophila melanogaster . Cadmium . Metallothionein . Heavymetal resistance . Accumulation

Disciplines

Life Sciences

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Cite this

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title = "Decreased Accumulation of Cadmium in Drosophila Selected for Resistance Suggests a Mechanism Independent of Metallothionein",

abstract = " Heavy metals, including cadmium, are common contaminants in environments subject to human activity. Responses to exposure in the fruit fly, Drosophila melanogaster, are dosage-dependent and resistance is selectable. While metallothionein-mediated sequestration has been extensively studied as a mechanism of cadmium resistance, a link between selection for resistance and an increased accumulation of cadmium has yet to be demonstrated. To address this need, we have selected wild-type flies for cadmium resistance for 20 generations and tested metal content using mass spectrometry. Resistant flies were observed to contain lower levels of cadmium, arguing for a mechanism of cadmium resistance that is not mediated by increased sequestration. This, coupled with genetic evidence suggesting the involvement of factors located on the X chromosome, suggests a gene other than metallothionein may be involved in resistance in this line.",

keywords = "Drosophila melanogaster . Cadmium . Metallothionein . Heavymetal resistance . Accumulation",

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T1 - Decreased Accumulation of Cadmium in Drosophila Selected for Resistance Suggests a Mechanism Independent of Metallothionein

AU - Nguyen, Austin H

AU - Altomare, Laura E

AU - McElwain, Mary C

PY - 2014/6/15

Y1 - 2014/6/15

N2 - Heavy metals, including cadmium, are common contaminants in environments subject to human activity. Responses to exposure in the fruit fly, Drosophila melanogaster, are dosage-dependent and resistance is selectable. While metallothionein-mediated sequestration has been extensively studied as a mechanism of cadmium resistance, a link between selection for resistance and an increased accumulation of cadmium has yet to be demonstrated. To address this need, we have selected wild-type flies for cadmium resistance for 20 generations and tested metal content using mass spectrometry. Resistant flies were observed to contain lower levels of cadmium, arguing for a mechanism of cadmium resistance that is not mediated by increased sequestration. This, coupled with genetic evidence suggesting the involvement of factors located on the X chromosome, suggests a gene other than metallothionein may be involved in resistance in this line.

AB - Heavy metals, including cadmium, are common contaminants in environments subject to human activity. Responses to exposure in the fruit fly, Drosophila melanogaster, are dosage-dependent and resistance is selectable. While metallothionein-mediated sequestration has been extensively studied as a mechanism of cadmium resistance, a link between selection for resistance and an increased accumulation of cadmium has yet to be demonstrated. To address this need, we have selected wild-type flies for cadmium resistance for 20 generations and tested metal content using mass spectrometry. Resistant flies were observed to contain lower levels of cadmium, arguing for a mechanism of cadmium resistance that is not mediated by increased sequestration. This, coupled with genetic evidence suggesting the involvement of factors located on the X chromosome, suggests a gene other than metallothionein may be involved in resistance in this line.

KW - Drosophila melanogaster . Cadmium . Metallothionein . Heavymetal resistance . Accumulation

U2 - 10.1007/s12011-014-0037-1

DO - 10.1007/s12011-014-0037-1

M3 - Article

VL - 160

JO - Biol Trace Elem Res

JF - Biol Trace Elem Res

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