Role of the metallothioneins in metal regulation by the guillemot Uria aalge

• Published in: Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology Part C: Pharmacology, Toxicology and Endocrinology
• Main Authors: Bouquegneau, Jean-Marie, Debacker, Virginie, Gobert, Sylvie, Havelange, Stéphane
• Other Authors: MARE - Centre Interfacultaire de Recherches en Océanologie - ULiège
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Science 1996
• Subjects: metallothionein; heavy metals; seabird; Life sciences; Environmental sciences & ecology; Zoology; Aquatic sciences & oceanology; Sciences du vivant; Sciences de l’environnement & écologie; Zoologie; Sciences aquatiques & océanologie; Uria aalge; uria
• Online Access: https://orbi.uliege.be/handle/2268/947; https://doi.org/10.1016/0742-8413(95)02079-9

peer reviewed Guillemots, like other seabird species living in the North Sea, appear to be heavily contaminated by copper. Metallothioneins are present in both liver and kidney but, at least in the specimens stranded along the Belgian coast, fail to maintain constant the copper, zinc and cadmium load of the high molecular weight soluble proteins of both organs, stressing the potential toxic role of these metals, mainly copper.