Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

The induction of stress proteins (hsp) in Oniscus asellus (Isopoda) as a molecular marker of multiple heavy metal exposure: I. Principles and toxicological assessment

  • Published:
Ecotoxicology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The induction of stress-70 (hsp70) and stress-60 (hsp60, chaperonin 60) in the terrestrial woodlouse, Oniscus asellus, after exposure to various heavy metals and heavy metal combinations was investigated by means of standard Western-blot using monoclonal antibodies. The expression of stress-70 was found to react much more sensitively to metal contamination than that of stress-60. The general course of the stress-70 response to increasing metal concentration was found to be similar for all treatments. Based on the obtained results, this course could be divided into three zones: in the first zone, the expression of stress-70 proteins was only marginally increased by comparatively low metal concentrations; in the second zone, strong induction of stress-70 occurred and the ability of the heat shock system to react to increased metal concentrations reached its climax; and in the third, non-compensation zone, a further increase in heavy metal concentration resulted in a decline of stress-70 levels, which can be interpreted as a result of pathological tissue damage. Combinations of metals were found to increase the stress- 70 level more intensely than related concentrations of singularly applied metals. Based on these studies, a ranking scheme of increasing toxicological impact of a variety of heavy metal combinations was composed

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Bradford, M.M. (1976) A rapid and sensitive method for the quantification of microgram quantities of protein utilizing the principle of protein-dye binding. Anal. Biochem. 72, 248–54.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cheng, M.Y., Hartl, F.U., Martin, J., Pollock, R.A., Kalousek, F., Neupert, W., Hallberg, E.M., Hallberg, R.L. and Horwich, A.L. (1989) Mitochondrial heat shock protein hsp60 is essential for assembly of proteins imported into yeast mitochondria. Nature 337, 620–5.

    Google Scholar 

  • Crommentuijn, T., Doodeman, C.J.A.M., Doornekamp, A., Van der Pol, J.J.C., Bedaux, J.J.M. and Van Gestel, C.A.M. (1994) Lethal body concentrations and accumulation patterns determine time-dependent toxicity of cadmium in soil arthropods. Environ. Toxicol. Chem. 13, 1781–9.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dallinger, R. and Rainbow, P.S. (1993) Ecotoxicology of metals in invertebrates. Boca Raton, FL: Lewis Publishers.

    Google Scholar 

  • Eckwert, H., Zanger, M., Reiss, S., Musolff, H., Alberti, G. and Köhler, H.-R. (1994) The effect of heavy metals on the expression of hsp 70 in soil invertebrates. Verh. Dtsch. Zool. Ges. 87, 325.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gale, N.L. and Wixson, B.G. (1979) Cadmium in forest ecosystems around lead smelters in Missouri. Environ. Health Persp. 28, 23–37.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hemmingsen, S.M., Woolford, C., van der Vies, S.M., Tilly, K., Dennis, T.D., Georgopoulos, C.P., Hendrix, R.W. and Ellis, R.J. (1988) Homologous plant and bacterial proteins chaperone oligomeric protein assembly. Nature 333, 330–4.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hopkin, S.P. (1989) Ecophysiology of Metals in Terrestrial Invertebrates. London, New York: Elsevier Applied Science.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hopkin, S.P. and Martin, M.H. (1984) Heavy metals in woodlice. Symp. Zool. Soc. Lond. 53, 143–66.

    Google Scholar 

  • Köhler, H.-R. and Eckwert, H. (1996) The induction of stress proteins (hsp) in Oniscus asellus (Isopoda) as a molecular marker of multiple heavy metal exposure. II: Joint toxicity and transfer to field situations. Ecotoxicology 6, 263–74.

    Google Scholar 

  • Köhler, H.R., Triebskorn, R., Stöcker, W., Kloetzel, P.-M. and Alberti, G. (1992) The 70 kD heat shock protein (hsp 70) in soil invertebrates: A possible tool for monitoring environmental toxicants. Arch. Environ. Contamin. Toxicol. 22, 334–8.

    Google Scholar 

  • Müller, G., Haamann, L., Kubat, R. and Noë, K. (1987) Schwermetalle und Nährstoffe in den Böden des Rhein-Neckar-Raumes: Ergebnisse flächendeckender Untersuchungen. Heidelberger Geowissenschaftliche Abhandlungen 13, 1–346.

    Google Scholar 

  • Nover, L. (1991) Heat shock response of eukaryotic cells. Berlin, Heidelberg, New York, Tokyo: Springer Verlag.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sanders, B.M. (1993) Stress proteins in aquatic organisms: an environmental perspective. Crit. Rev. Toxicol. 23(1), 49–75.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Cell Biology, Zoological Institute, University of Tubingen, Auf der Morgenstelle 28, D-72076, Tubingen FRG

    Helga Eckwert

  2. Zoological Institute, University of Greifswald, Johann- Sebastian-Bach-Str. 11/12, D-17489, Greifswald FRG

    Gerd Alberti

  3. Department of Cell Biology, Zoological Institute, University of Tubingen, Auf der Morgenstelle 28, D-72076, Tubingen FRG

    Heinz-R Kohler

Authors
  1. Helga Eckwert
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Gerd Alberti
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Heinz-R Kohler
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Eckwert, H., Alberti, G. & Kohler, HR. The induction of stress proteins (hsp) in Oniscus asellus (Isopoda) as a molecular marker of multiple heavy metal exposure: I. Principles and toxicological assessment. Ecotoxicology 6, 249–262 (1997). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1018682928839

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1018682928839

Search

Navigation