Molecular mechanisms of pathogenesis of diseases caused by heavy metals in polluted air

DOI

Bibliographic Information

Other Title
  • 重金属汚染による健康障害の分子生物学

Abstract

Heavy metals, such as mercury (Hg) and arsenite (As), which are released as pollutants into air when coals are burned for producing electricity, may induce the development of several diseases, including cancers, in humans. Possible molecular mechanisms underlying the pathogenesis of diseases caused by heavy metals were analyzed. Exposure of cells to HgCl_2 in vitro was found to induce a striking activation of protein tyrosine kinases (PTKs), such as Lck, c-Src and RET. Two steps of mechanisms of PTK activation were demonstrated. First, cell surface receptors were aggregated due to a redox-linked reaction between receptors and metal ions, which caused production of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Second, the generated ROS induced redox-linked dimerization or polymerization and activation of PTK molecules. The target site for redox-linked dimerization and activation of PTKs was thought to be localized in the MXXCW motif of the kinase domain, which is conserved in 80 among 81 PTKs in a database.

Journal

Details 詳細情報について

  • CRID
    1390282680745944704
  • NII Article ID
    110006857797
  • DOI
    10.20550/jiesekitanronbun.42.0_3
  • ISSN
    24238309
    24238295
  • Text Lang
    ja
  • Data Source
    • JaLC
    • CiNii Articles
  • Abstract License Flag
    Disallowed

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