Abstract
Metal pollution has made a significant impact on the earth’s ecosystems and tolerance to metals in a wide variety of species has evolved. Metallothioneins, a group of cysteine-rich metal-ion binding proteins, are known to be a key physiological mechanism in regulating protection against metal toxicity. Many rivers across the southwest of England are detrimentally affected by metal pollution, but brown trout (Salmo trutta L.) populations are known to reside within them. In this body of work, two isoforms of metallothionein (MetA and MetB) isolated from trout occupying a polluted and a control river are examined. Using synthetic genetic array (SGA) analyses in the model yeast, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, functional genomics is used to explore the role of metallothionein isoforms in driving metal tolerance. By harnessing this experimental system, S. cerevisiae is used to (i) determine the genetic interaction maps of MetA and MetB isoforms; (ii) identify differences between the genetic interactions in both isoforms and (iii) demonstrate that pre-exposure to metals in metal-tolerant trout influences these interactions. By using a functional genomics approach leveraged from the model yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, we demonstrate how such approaches could be used in understanding the ecology and evolution of a non-model species.
Highlights
COPYRIGHT AND REUSE Open Research Exeter makes this work available in accordance with publisher policies
Once the genes were transformed into S. cerevisiae, we performed real-time PCR to determine that the genes were being expressed (Fig. 2B) in tandem to a metal tolerant phenotypic screen
Through synthetic genetic array (SGA) screens, we have demonstrated how utilization of functional genomic technologies can be used to explore the evolution of metal tolerance in brown trout
Summary
COPYRIGHT AND REUSE Open Research Exeter makes this work available in accordance with publisher policies. Mining in the region has ceased, many rivers remain polluted with metals[7,8] Despite evidence that these rivers contain metal concentrations known to affect fish physiology[9,10,11]; populations of resident brown trout (Salmo trutta L.) are found within them. Study of these metal-tolerant trout populations has shown that their genetic structure is different compared to fish from neighbouring control rivers, and that these demographic changes have occurred in association with periods of increased mining activity[12]. SGA analysis has not been adopted as a general conceptual framework in functional www.nature.com/scientificreports/
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
