Lam Kwok Lim. / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 1998. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 107-126). / Abstract also in Chinese. / Acknowledgments --- p.i / Presentations Derived from the Present Thesis Work --- p.ii / Abstract --- p.iv / Abbreviations --- p.vii / Abbreviation Table for Amino Acids --- p.ix / List of Figures --- p.x / List of Tables --- p.xii / Contents --- p.xiii / Chapter 1 --- Introduction --- p.1 / Chapter 1.1 --- Metallothionein (MT) --- p.1 / Chapter 1.1.1 --- Classification of MT --- p.1 / Chapter 1.1.2 --- Structure of MT --- p.2 / Chapter 1.1.3. --- Structure of MT Genes --- p.4 / Chapter 1.1.4 --- Function of MT --- p.5 / Chapter 1.1.5 --- Regulation of MT Expression --- p.7 / Chapter 1.1.6 --- Fish MT --- p.9 / Chapter 1.1.7. --- Aims and Rationale of the Present Study --- p.12 / Chapter 2 --- MT mRNA Induction of Tilapia After Intraperitoneal Injection of Metal --- p.18 / Chapter 2.1 --- Introduction --- p.18 / Chapter 2.1.1. --- Specific Aims of This Chapter --- p.19 / Chapter 2.2 --- Materials and Methods --- p.20 / Chapter 2.2.1 --- Regents --- p.20 / Chapter 2.2.1.1 --- Purification of Total RNA --- p.20 / Chapter 2.2.1.2 --- Denaturing Gel and Vacuum Blotting of RNA (Northern Blotting) --- p.20 / Chapter 2.2.1.3 --- Hybridization --- p.21 / Chapter 2.2.2 --- Methods --- p.21 / Chapter 2.2.2.1 --- Purification of Total RNA --- p.21 / Chapter 2.2.2.2 --- Vacuum Blotting of Total RNA (Northern Blotting) --- p.22 / Chapter 2.2.2.3 --- Radioactive Labeling of Nucleic Acid Probes --- p.22 / Chapter 2.2.2.4 --- Hybridization --- p.22 / Chapter 2.2.2.5 --- Densitometric Analysis --- p.23 / Chapter 2.2.2.6 --- Calculation of MT mRNA Levels and Analysis of Results --- p.23 / Chapter 2.2.3 --- Endogenous MT mRNA Expression of Juvenile Tilapia and Carp --- p.23 / Chapter 2.2.4 --- Induction of MT mRNA Juvenile Tilapia and Carp Injected with Metals --- p.24 / Chapter 2.3 --- Results --- p.25 / Chapter 2.3.1 --- Endogenous Levels of MT mRNA in Tilapias in Normal Conditions --- p.25 / Chapter 2.3.2 --- Induction of MT mRNA Levels in Juvenile Tilapia Injected with Metals --- p.25 / Chapter 2.3.1.1 --- Copper Injection --- p.25 / Chapter 2.3.1.2 --- Zinc Injection --- p.25 / Chapter 2.3.1.3 --- Cadmium Injection --- p.26 / Chapter 2.3.3 --- Induction of MT mRNA Levels in Juvenile Carp with Zinc Injection --- p.26 / Chapter 2.4 --- Discussion --- p.26 / Chapter 2.4.1 --- MT mRNA Expression of Tilapia and Carp Injected with Metals --- p.26 / Chapter 2.5 --- Conclusions --- p.29 / Chapter 3 --- Induction Level of MT mRNA in Tilapia After Aqueous Exposure to Metals --- p.35 / Chapter 3.1 --- Introduction --- p.35 / Chapter 3.1.1 --- Specific aims of this chapter --- p.36 / Chapter 3.2 --- Material s and Methods --- p.36 / Chapter 3.2.1 --- 96hours LC-50 values for zinc and copper --- p.36 / Chapter 3.2.2 --- Induction of MT mRNA in Juvenile Tiapias under Metal Aqueous Exposures --- p.37 / Chapter 3.2.3 --- Calculation of Fold Induction of MT mRNA and Analysis of Results --- p.38 / Chapter 3.2.4 --- Metal Analysis --- p.38 / Chapter 3.3 --- Results --- p.38 / Chapter 3.3.1 --- LC-50 values of metals for Juvenile Tilapia --- p.38 / Chapter 3.3.2 --- Induction of MT mRNA in Juvenile Tilapia under Metal Aqueous Exposures --- p.39 / Chapter 3.3.2.1 --- Aqueous Exposure to Copper --- p.39 / Chapter 3.3.2.2 --- Aqueous Exposure to Zinc --- p.40 / Chapter 3.3.2.3 --- Aqueous Exposure to Cadmium --- p.41 / Chapter 3.3.3 --- Induction of MT mRNA in Juvenile Carp after Aqueous Exposures to Metal --- p.41 / Chapter 3.3.3.1 --- Aqueous Exposure to Cadmium --- p.41 / Chapter 3.3.4 --- Metal Concentrations of Water Samples from the Aquaria in the Metal Exposure Test of Tilapia and Carp --- p.42 / Chapter 3.4 --- Discussion --- p.42 / Chapter 3.4.1 --- LC-50 values of Metals for Tilapia --- p.42 / Chapter 3.4.2 --- MT mRNA Expression of Tilapias under Metal Aqueous Exposure --- p.44 / Chapter 3.4.3 --- Normalization of the Signals of Northern Blot Analysis --- p.47 / Chapter 3.5 --- Conclusions --- p.48 / Chapter 4 --- Field Study --- p.58 / Chapter 4.1 --- Introduction --- p.58 / Chapter 4.1.1 --- Specific Aims of this Chapter --- p.59 / Chapter 4.2 --- Materials and Methods --- p.59 / Chapter 4.2.1 --- Sampling Sites --- p.59 / Chapter 4.2.2 --- Data Analysis --- p.60 / Chapter 4.2.3 --- Harvest of Feral Tilapia --- p.60 / Chapter 4.2.4 --- Determination of Metal Concentration of Metal Concentration in the Tissues of Feral Tilapia --- p.60 / Chapter 4.2.5 --- Endogenous MT mRNA Levels Using Northern Blot Analysis --- p.61 / Chapter 4.2.6 --- Calculation of MT mRNA Levels and Analysis of Results --- p.61 / Chapter 4.3 --- Results --- p.62 / Chapter 4.3.1 --- Metal Concentrations in the Tissues of Feral Tilapia --- p.62 / Chapter 4.3.2 --- Comparison of Metal Concentrations Among Different Tissues of Feral Tilapia --- p.62 / Chapter 4.3.3 --- MT mRNA Levels in the Tissues of Feral Tilapia --- p.63 / Chapter 4.3.4 --- Correlation Between Metal Concentrations and Endogenous MT mRNA Levels in the Tissues of Feral Tilapia --- p.63 / Chapter 4.4 --- Discussion --- p.64 / Chapter 4.4.1 --- Bioaccumulation of Metals --- p.64 / Chapter 4.4.2 --- Endogenous Levels of MT mRNA in the Feral Tilapia --- p.67 / Chapter 4.5 --- Conclusions --- p.68 / Chapter 5 --- Cloning of Tilapia MT Genes --- p.86 / Chapter 5.1 --- Specific Aims of This Chapter 、 --- p.86 / Chapter 5.2 --- Materials and Methods --- p.87 / Chapter 5.2.1 --- Regents --- p.87 / Chapter 5.2.1.1 --- Preparation of Plasmid DNA --- p.87 / Chapter 5.2.1.2 --- Preparation of Genomic DNA --- p.87 / Chapter 5.2.1.3 --- Restriction Enzyme Digestion --- p.88 / Chapter 5.2.1.4 --- Vacuum Blotting of DNA (Southern Blotting) --- p.88 / Chapter 5.2.1.5 --- Polymerase Chain Reaction --- p.89 / Chapter 5.2.1.6 --- Transformation of E.coli Competent Cells --- p.89 / Chapter 5.2.1.7 --- Nucleotide Sequence Determination --- p.89 / Chapter 5.2.1.8 --- List of Primers --- p.90 / Chapter 5.2.1.8.1 --- Primers for Nucleotide Sequence Determination --- p.90 / Chapter 5.2.1.8.2 --- Tilapia MT Specific Primers for PCR --- p.90 / Chapter 5.2.2 --- Methods --- p.91 / Chapter 5.2.2.1 --- Preparation of Plasmid --- p.91 / Chapter 5.2.2.2 --- Preparation of Genomic DNA --- p.91 / Chapter 5.2.2.3 --- Preparation of Enzyme Digestion --- p.92 / Chapter 5.2.2.4 --- Vacuum Blotting of Genomic DNA (Southern Blotting) --- p.92 / Chapter 5.2.2.5 --- Radioactive Labeling of Nucleic Acid Probes --- p.92 / Chapter 5.2.2.6 --- Hybridization --- p.93 / Chapter 5.2.2.7 --- Polymerase Chain Reaction --- p.93 / Chapter 5.2.3 --- Southern Blot Analysis of Tilapia Genomic DNA --- p.93 / Chapter 5.2.4 --- Analysis of the Sequences of Tilapia MT Genes --- p.94 / Chapter 5.2.4.1 --- Amplification of MT Genes Using PCR --- p.94 / Chapter 5.2.4.2 --- Cloning of the MT Genes --- p.94 / Chapter 5.2.4.3 --- Transformation of E.coli Competent Cell --- p.94 / Chapter 5.2.4.4 --- Nucleotide Sequence Determination --- p.95 / Chapter 5.3 --- Results --- p.95 / Chapter 5.3.1 --- Southern Blot Analysis of Tilapia Genomic DNA --- p.95 / Chapter 5.3.2 --- Amplification of MT Gene Fragments Using PCR --- p.95 / Chapter 5.3.3 --- Analysis of the Sequences of Tilapia MT Genes --- p.96 / Chapter 5.4 --- Discussion --- p.96 / Chapter 5.4.1 --- Fish MT Genes --- p.96 / Chapter 5.5 --- Conclusions --- p.98 / Chapter 6 --- General Discussion --- p.104 / References --- p.107