2013 Fiscal Year Annual Research Report
爬虫類の有鱗目と亀目における生体異物代謝経路―生物学的防御システムの機序と特徴
| Project/Area Number |
13J01324
|
|---|
| Research Institution | Hokkaido University |
|---|
Principal Investigator |
オロスラーニュ バラージュフェレンツ 北海道大学, 大学院獣医学研究科, 特別研究員(DC1)
|
|---|
| Keywords | 爬虫類 / カメ類 / 異物代謝 / 種差 / ピレン / 多環芳香族炭化水素 / SULT |
|---|
| Research Abstract |
Last year a global report on the conservation status of reptiles showed an alarming picture : one in every five reptile species are threatened with extinction. We know that environmental catastrophes such as the 2010 Gulf of Mexico oil spill still has a lasting effort of affected reptile populations. Yet the exact mechanism how these pollutants affect the reptilian body, and how a reptilian body's answer to these xenobiotics is differ from other vertebrate species is still unknown.
To investigate these characteristics, I used three freshwater turtles, and observed the reaction in vivo and in vitro to pyrene, a polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH). Exposing Pyrene to living turtles, I observed an interesting pyrene-1-sulfate dominance among metabolites. In vitro results, however, were insufficient to explain this phenomena. I measured low activity for both phase I and phase II enzymes, and while interspecies differences were observed, no similar significant difference was found between UGT and SULT (phase II)enzymes. As a next step, I'm concentrating on the molecular level, with the help of recently published turtle genomes as well as building a yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae)based model for a reptile screening model.
|
| Current Status of Research Progress |
Current Status of Research Progress
3: Progress in research has been slightly delayed.
Reason
Starting working with freshwater turtles, I faced two problems. First, I had to learn molecular biology techniques which were new to me, and second, I had to perform them on reptiles, a class seldoml seen in laboratories. Also, while genetic data is usually easily accessible for such model animals as mice or rats, similar reptilian databases are still under development. These combined factors (new techniques, different physiology and lack of data) were contributing to delayed progress, which occurred in a slower pace than I expected.
|
| Strategy for Future Research Activity |
While my learning curve was steep in the last year, I am confident that I've earned a firm base of techniques and knowledge to build on. Furthermore, recent publications of whole genome data from various reptilian species helps me to catch up with my original plan. This year a proposal for a reptilian environmental risk evaluation model and protocol will be announced by the European Food Safety Agency. This also correlates well with my final aim, and I hope that an active collaborating network with other researchers in the field would allow me to finalize my research.
|
Research Products
(3 results)
