Metallothionein Isoforms in Mytilus edulis (Mollusca, Bivalvia): Complementary DNA Characterization and Quantification of Expression in Different Organs after Exposure to Cadmium, Zinc, and Copper.

Reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction has been used to isolate one metallothionein isoform (MT-20) complementary DNA from RNA extracted from mussel gill. Another cDNA, isolated by screening a Mytilus edulis cDNA mantle library using the first cDNA as probe, codes for the MT-10 IV isoform. Northern blot analysis using these cDNAs revealed different expression of these isoforms. Induction with CdC1(2) caused high levels of both MT messenger RNAs, especially the MT-20, which was induced by cadmium salt but not by zinc and copper salts. An induction of MT-10 was detected with ZnCl(2). These results show that genes encoding distinct MT isoforms are differentially regulated by heavy metals.