Metals and Genetics

During the past few years, major scientific discoveries have greatly contributed to our understanding of the relationship between metals and genetics. The fields which have contrib­ uted to this area range from Clinical Medicine and Genetics to Biochemistry and Chemistry. The aim of this book is to bring together investigators from these diverse fields to reflect on the broad implications of direct and indirect interactions of metals and genetic components. The volume begins with a tribute to the late Karen Wetterhahn, an outstanding scien­ tist in the field, who will be sadly missed by her friends and colleagues because of her un­ timely death. The book has 28 chapters contributed by scientists who are internationally known for their expertise and outstanding research. The subject matters are divided into five major sections. The first section discusses genetic response to environmental expo­ sure to metals. Potentially devastating health crises have been reported in recent years from several parts of the world, which stem from environmental exposure to metals. In this section, authors report their findings on the effects and influence of metals in gene ex­ pression and their consequences to human health. The section on metal carcinogenesis and metal caused DNA damage, presents the latest advances in our knowledge of the molecu­ lar mechanisms of metal-induced mutagenesis and carcinogenesis. This topic is at the very heart of our understanding of how cancer may be caused by various metals. Front Matter....Pages i-xi Eulogy for Karen Wetterhahn....Pages 1-3 Metalloregulation of Soft Metal Resistance Pumps....Pages 5-19 Clastogenic Effects and Influence of Inorganic Arsenic on DNA-Repair in Mammalian Systems....Pages 21-40 Groundwater Arsenic Contamination and Sufferings of People in West Bengal, India and Bangladesh....Pages 41-65 The Nature and Extent of Arsenic-Affected Drinking Water in Bangladesh....Pages 67-85 Chromium Biomonitoring....Pages 87-100 Chelate Sensor Method for Mercury....Pages 101-116 Copper Transport and Ceruloplasmin During Lactation and Pregnancy....Pages 117-129 CAP43....Pages 131-144 Zinc and Metallothionein in Mammalian Cell Cycle Regulation....Pages 145-158 Effect of Metal Compounds on the Function of Zinc Finger Proteins Involved in DNA Repair....Pages 159-169 Chromium(III) as a Male Preconception Carcinogen in Mice....Pages 171-182 DNA Cleavage vs. Cross-Linking Using Nickel Peptides....Pages 183-196 Copper-Dependent DNA Scission....Pages 197-208 Modulation of Glucocorticoid Signaling and Leukocyte Activation by Transition Metals....Pages 209-220 Reactions of Copper-Zinc Superoxide Dismutases with Hydrogen Peroxide....Pages 221-228 Yeast Mitochondrial Iron Metabolism and the Pathophysiology of Friedreich’s Ataxia....Pages 229-236 Getting Copper into Mitochondria....Pages 237-254 The Copper-Transporting ATpase Defective in Wilson Disease....Pages 255-264 Towards the Characterization of the Wilson Disease Copper ATpase Metal Binding Domain....Pages 265-278 Molecular Genetics of Menkes Disease....Pages 279-290 Mutational Analysis of the Copper ATpase Affected in Menkes Disease....Pages 291-300 Clinicopathological and Molecular Genetic Features of Hereditary Ceruloplasmin Deficiency (Aceruloplasminemia)....Pages 301-311 Copper Related Liver Disease in Young Children....Pages 313-323 Regulation of zinc Homeostasis in Yeast by the Zap1 Transcriptional Activator....Pages 325-338 Embryonic Liver Degeneration and Increased Sensitivity Towards Heavy Metal and H 2 O 2 in Mice Lacking the Metal-Responsive Transcription Factor MTF-1....Pages 339-352 The Transport and Intracellular Trafficking of Metal ions in Yeast....Pages 353-363 Mechanisms of Copper Chaperone Proteins....Pages 365-374 Transcriptional Regulation of the Gene Encoding Mouse Metallothionein-3....Pages 375-390 Back Matter....Pages 391-396 This book covers significant discoveries in the rapidly advancing field of metals and genetics. The aim of this volume is to bring together investigators from diverse fields of clinical medicine, genetics, biochemistry, and chemistry to reflect on the broad implications of direct and indirect interactions of metals and genetic components. The volume is divided into five sections. The first discusses genetic response to environmental exposure to metals. The section on metal carcinogenesis and metal caused DNA damage presents the latest advances in our knowledge of the molecular mechanisms of metal-induced mutagenis and carcinogenesis. A section is devoted to metals and neurodegenerative diseases. The identification of several disease genes related to metals is a major breakthrough in recent years. The section on genetics and biochemistry of metal-related diseases presents authoritative accounts of current information on both inherited and acquired metal-related diseases. They have discussed the genetics and pathophysiology of these diseases and reported the cloning, expression, purification, and characterization of gene products. Exciting results have been reported recently describing regulation of gene expression by metals. Chapters in this section on metals and gene regulation report recent advances dealing with the mechanism of metal-mediated regulation and control of gene expression