Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 2, 2026

A New Approach for the Comparative Analysis of Multiprotein Complexes Based on 15N Metabolic Labeling and Quantitative Mass Spectrometry
Published on: March 13, 2014
Heavy-metal regulation of thioredoxin gene expression in chlamydomonas reinhardtii
1Institut de Biotechnologie des Plantes, Unite Mixte de Recherche 8618, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Universite Paris-Sud, Batiment 630, 91405 Orsay cedex, France (S.L., E.K., M.S. , I.S., E.I.-B., C.G.-H., M.M.-M.).
Abstract:
Heavy metals are highly toxic compounds for cells. In this report we demonstrate that the expression of Chlamydomonas reinhardtii thioredoxins (TRX) m and h is induced by heavy metals. Upon exposure of the cells to Cd and Hg, a strong accumulation of both messengers was observed. Western-blot experiments revealed that among these two TRXs, only TRX h polypeptides accumulated in response to the toxic cations. A biochemical analysis indicated that heavy metals inhibit TRX activity, presumably by binding at the level of their active site. Sequence analysis of the C. reinhardtii TRX h promoter revealed the presence of cis-acting elements related to cadmium induction. The origins and purposes of this regulation are discussed. Our data suggest, for the first time to our knowledge, a possible implication of TRXs in defense mechanisms against heavy metals.
Related Concept Videos
Chromatin Structure Regulates pre-mRNA Processing
The chromatin structure, especially...
Regulation of Expression Occurs at Multiple Steps
Transcription results in the generation of precursor (pre-mRNA) that consists of both exons and introns, which needs further processing before being translated to a...
Transcription Attenuation in Prokaryotes
There are several different mechanisms used to attenuate transcription. In ribosome mediated...
Riboswitches
The aptamer has high specificity for a particular metabolite which allows riboswitches to specifically regulate...
Regulation of Expression at Multiple Steps
Stringent Response in E. coli

