Main description:

During the past few years, major scientific discoveries have greatly contributed to our understanding of the relationship between metals and genetics. The fields which have contrib uted to this area range from Clinical Medicine and Genetics to Biochemistry and Chemistry. The aim of this book is to bring together investigators from these diverse fields to reflect on the broad implications of direct and indirect interactions of metals and genetic components. The volume begins with a tribute to the late Karen Wetterhahn, an outstanding scien tist in the field, who will be sadly missed by her friends and colleagues because of her un timely death. The book has 28 chapters contributed by scientists who are internationally known for their expertise and outstanding research. The subject matters are divided into five major sections. The first section discusses genetic response to environmental expo sure to metals. Potentially devastating health crises have been reported in recent years from several parts of the world, which stem from environmental exposure to metals. In this section, authors report their findings on the effects and influence of metals in gene ex pression and their consequences to human health. The section on metal carcinogenesis and metal caused DNA damage, presents the latest advances in our knowledge of the molecu lar mechanisms of metal-induced mutagenesis and carcinogenesis. This topic is at the very heart of our understanding of how cancer may be caused by various metals.

Contents:

Eulogy for Karen Wetterhahn: As an Introduction to the Session "Genetic Response to Environmental Exposure to Metals" for the Second International Symposium on Metals and Genetics.- Genetic Response to Environmental Exposure to Metals and Metal Transport.- 1. Metalloregulation of Soft Metal Resistance Pumps.- 2. Clastogenic Effects and Influence of Inorganic Arsenic on DNA-Repair in Mammalian Systems.- 3. Groundwater Arsenic Contamination and Sufferings of People in West Bengal, India and Bangladesh: Status Report Up to March, 1998.- 4. The Nature and Extent of Arsenic-Affected Drinking Water in Bangladesh.- 5. Chromium Biomonitoring: Achievements, Problems, and Future Challenges.- 6. Chelate Sensor Method for Mercury.- 7. Copper Transport and Ceruloplasmin during Lactation and Pregnancy.- Metal Carcinogenesis and Metal Caused DNA Damage.- 8. CAP43: A New Gene Induced by a Rise in Free Intracellular Ca2+ following Ni2+ Exposure.- 9. Zinc and Metallothionein in Mammalian Cell Cycle Regulation.- 10. Effect of Metal Compounds on the Function of Zinc Finger Proteins Involved in DNARepair.- 11. Chromium(III) as a Male Preconception Carcinogen in Mice.- 12. DNA Cleavage vs. Cross-Linking Using Nickel Peptides: Mechanistic Aspects.- 13. Copper-Dependent DNA Scission 197.- 14. Modulation of Glucocorticoid Signaling and Leukocyte Activation by Transition Metals.- Metals and Neurodegenerative Diseases.- 15. Reactions of Copper-Zinc Superoxide Dismutases with Hydrogen Peroxide: Possible Involvement in Familial Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis.- 16. Yeast Mitochondrial Iron Metabolism and the Pathophysiology of Friedreich' Ataxia.- 17. Getting Copper into Mitochondria.- Genetics and Biochemistry of Metal-Related Diseases.- 18. The Copper-Transporting ATPase Defective in Wilson Disease.- 19. Towards the Characterization of the Wilson Disease Copper ATPase Metal Binding Domain.- 20. Molecular Genetics of Menkes Disease.- 21. Mutational Analysis of the Copper ATPase Affected in Menkes Disease.- 22. Clinicopathological and Molecular Genetic Features of Hereditary Ceruloplasmin Deficiency (Aceruloplasminemia).- 23. Copper Related Liver Disease in Young Children.- Metals and Gene Regulation.- 24. Regulation of Zinc Homeostasis in Yeast by the ZAP1 Transcriptional Activator.- 25. Embryonic Liver Degeneration and Increased Sensitivity Towards Heavy Metal and H2O2 in Mice Lacking the Metal-Responsive Transcription Factor MTF-1.- 26. The Transport and Intracellular Trafficking of Metal Ions in Yeast.- 27. Mechanisms of Copper Chaperone Proteins.- 28. Transcriptional Regulation of the Gene Encoding Mouse Metallothionein-3.- Contributors.