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Genetic control of cadmium tolerance in Drosophila melanogaster

Journal Article · · Environmental Health Perspectives
; ;  [1]
  1. Univ. of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC (United States)
Flies from a transgenic line of Drosophila melanogaster with two copies of the metallothionein allele Mtn{sup 3} were more tolerant to cadmium than strains with only one copy of the gene. However, flies with the Mtn{sup 3} allele were as tolerant as flies with the Mtn{sup 1} allele, despite the level of expression of Mtn{sup {minus}3} allele were as tolerant as flies with the Mtn{sup 1} allele, despite the level of expression of Mtn{sup 1} being three times higher than that of Mtn{sup {minus}3}. We propose that the substitution of Lys-40 (in Mtn{sup 3}) for Glu-40 (in Mtn{sup 1}) accounts for a reduction in binding affinity of Mtn{sup 1}, which offsets the increased expression levels. 6 refs., 3 figs., 2 tabs.
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE
OSTI ID:
391054
Journal Information:
Environmental Health Perspectives, Journal Name: Environmental Health Perspectives Journal Issue: 12 Vol. 103; ISSN EVHPAZ; ISSN 0091-6765
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

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