Although several genes affected by the nude mutation inactivating the transcription factor Whn have recently been identified, a comprehensive molecular analysis of the nude phenotype is still missing. Gene expression profiling of wildtype and nude mice back skin reveals several so far unknown differences in mRNA levels and demonstrates that microarray hybridization is ideal to identify even qua...

Scallops, Pecten maximus, accumulate cadmium naturally in the digestive gland to a level of approximately 100 ppm wet weight. Of this cadmium, 60% was soluble and was composed of three weight classes as judged by Sephadex G-100 chromatography. Of the soluble cadmium, 60% was in the 55,000 molecular weight range and 20% each in an excluded fraction and a 10,000 molecular weight fraction. The 55,...

Zinc (Zn) is an essential, common metal in animal tissues. Zn levels were elevated in only four tissues after Zn administration, the highest increase being in the pancreas. Zn concentration was increased by metallothionein induction. Metallothionein-bound Zn significantly reduced the toxicity of the metals Cd, Cu and Hg. It should be noted that tissue Zn levels are different in experimental ani...