Copper alone, but not oxidative stress, induces copper-metallothionein gene in Neurospora crassa

K Satish Kumar; S Dayananda; C Subramanyam

doi:10.1016/j.femsle.2004.10.040

Copper alone, but not oxidative stress, induces copper-metallothionein gene in Neurospora crassa

FEMS Microbiol Lett. 2005 Jan 1;242(1):45-50. doi: 10.1016/j.femsle.2004.10.040.

Authors

K Satish Kumar¹, S Dayananda, C Subramanyam

Affiliation

¹ Department of Biochemistry, University College Science, Osmania University, Hyderabad 500 007, India.

PMID: 15621418
DOI: 10.1016/j.femsle.2004.10.040

Abstract

Two metal response elements, flanking an antioxidant response element, were identified in regions upstream (-3730 bp) to copper metallothionein (CuMT) gene of Neurospora crassa. Presence of copper in culture media, but not of pro-oxidants like H2O2 or menadione, induced CuMT gene expression that could not be completely abolished by antioxidants such as N-acetyl cysteine and ascorbic acid. Gel shift assays revealed the ability of nuclear extracts from copper induced cultures to bind PCR-amplified metal response or antioxidant response elements. Similar observations could not be made with cultures exposed either to pro-oxidants or antioxidants. These results differentiate between CuMT gene induction by copper from antioxidant functions associated with the identified upstream elements.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Ascorbic Acid / metabolism
Copper / metabolism*
Culture Media / chemistry
Electrophoretic Mobility Shift Assay
Gene Expression Regulation, Fungal*
Hydrogen Peroxide / metabolism
Metallothionein / genetics*
Neurospora crassa / genetics*
Neurospora crassa / metabolism
Oxidative Stress*
Transcriptional Activation
Vitamin K 3 / metabolism

Substances

Culture Media
copper thionein
Vitamin K 3
Copper
Metallothionein
Hydrogen Peroxide
Ascorbic Acid