Effects of copper and tributyltin on stress protein abundance in the rotifer Brachionus plicatilis

Bruce J. Cochrane, Rosalyn B. Irby, Terry W. Snell

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

62 Scopus citations

Abstract

1. Exposure of the rotifer Brachionus plicatilis to elevated temperature resulted in the synthesis of a number of proteins, including a prominent one of 58,000 Da (SP58). 2. This protein is immunologically crossreactive with the 65,000 Da heat shock protein of the moth Hehothis virescens, which is a member of a highly conserved family of mitochondrial proteins. 3. Exposure of rotifers to sublethal doses ofCuSO4 leads to a 4-5-fold increase in abundance of SP58, with maximum increase occurring at a dose that is approximately 5% of the lc50 for that compound. 4. A similar response was seen with tributyl tin (TBT). Kinetics of induction were sigmoidal, with induction occurring in the range of 20-30 μg/l. 5. No response was observed when rotifers were exposed to aluminum chloride, mercury chloride, pentachlorophenol, sodium arsenite, sodium azide, sodium dodecyl sulfate, or zinc chloride. 6. These results indicate that changes in stress protein abundance may prove useful as a biomarker of exposure to particular toxicants.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)385-390
Number of pages6
JournalComparative Biochemistry and Physiology. Part C, Comparative
Volume98
Issue number2-3
DOIs
StatePublished - 1991

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Immunology
  • Pharmacology

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