Ecotoxicology aims to understand toxic effects of chemicals in the environment. Effects can be observed at different levels of the biological organization, from molecular to ecosystem level. Biomarkers on molecular and biochemical levels are used in ecotoxicology as early warning signals of chemical exposure, possible toxic effects and underlying mechanisms. As methods and technologies improve, more biomarkers are being implemented in ecotoxicological studies, due to the general interest in early detection and thus efficient prevention of environmental risks. However, to be of value in ecotoxicological assessment, a connection between biomarker response and effects at higher levels of biological organization should be established. Also, baseline variability for the biomarker in question as well as response to natural fluctuations of environmental factors should be evaluated. The aim of this thesis was to increase value and understanding of biomarkers in ecotoxicological assessment by (1) linking responses across different levels of biological organization, and (2) gaining better understanding of the relative importance of ecological and physiological factors affecting oxidative biomarkers. Paper I is focused on evolutionary conserved drug targets and the toxicity of pharmaceuticals for non-target organisms. The main conclusion from this study is that pharmaceuticals with conserved drug targets in non-target organisms have a higher toxicity than pharmaceuticals for which drug-targets have not been identified in the species. The effects were evaluated using end points at molecular, biochemical and individual levels. Consistent with the expected higher sensitivity of molecular and biochemical end points, the effects on the low-level biomarkers were observed at lower concentrations than at the individual level.   Paper II is focused on delineating effects of feeding and toxic exposure on oxidative biomarkers commonly used in ecotoxicology. The results are in agreement with the theory of caloric restriction that links enhanced caloric intake to increased pro-oxidative processes in animals. In our experiments with the cladoceran Daphnia magna, we observed positive effects for both antioxidant capacity and oxidized lipids in response to enhanced feeding rates. This have implications for the use of oxidative stress biomarkers in ecotoxicology as many substances have inhibitory effects on feeding rate and thus, changes in oxidative biomarkers can result from the altered feeding rate rather than other toxic mechanisms. Therefore, possible changes in feeding rate should be assessed when conducting exposure experiments or interpreting field data in studies employing oxidative stress biomarkers. However, it was concluded that the ratio between antioxidative capacity and protein content was independent of feeding rate. Thus, this biomarker is suitable for xenobiotic exposure in D. magna. This thesis have contributed to better understanding of molecular and biochemical biomarkers in ecotoxicological studies in regard to the connections between effects at different biological levels and confounding factors in biomarker response. / <p>At the tiem of defence the following papers wer unpublished and had a status as follows:</p><p>Paper 1: Manuscript; Paper 2: Manuscript</p>

>Magister Scientiae - MSc / Fruit storage at cold temperatures is normally used to delay decay while maintaining the fruit’s quality. However, storage at low temperatures for a prolonged period causes some important metabolic functions within the fruit to stop functioning properly. This phenomenon is even more critical and complex in chilling-sensitive fruits. Fruits that originated in the tropical and sub-tropical regions are known to be chilling sensitive; their storage at low but non-freezing temperatures causes them to experience chilling injury (CI). Chilling injury causes irreversible damage to the external and internal attributes of the fruits. Pomegranate, which is investigated in this study, is consumed as fresh arils in many regions of the world. / 2023

京都大学 / 0048 / 新制・課程博士 / 博士(医学) / 甲第18144号 / 医博第3864号 / 新制||医||1002(附属図書館) / 31002 / 京都大学大学院医学研究科医学専攻 / (主査)教授 松原 和夫, 教授 髙橋 淳, 教授 福山 秀直 / 学位規則第4条第1項該当 / Doctor of Medical Science / Kyoto University / DGAM

京都大学 / 0048 / 新制・課程博士 / 博士(医学) / 甲第18546号 / 医博第3939号 / 新制||医||1006(附属図書館) / 31446 / 京都大学大学院医学研究科医学専攻 / (主査)教授 武田 俊一, 教授 松田 文彦, 教授 小松 賢志 / 学位規則第4条第1項該当 / Doctor of Medical Science / Kyoto University / DGAM

京都大学 / 0048 / 新制・課程博士 / 博士(医学) / 甲第18851号 / 医博第3962号 / 新制||医||1007(附属図書館) / 31802 / 京都大学大学院医学研究科医学専攻 / (主査)教授 別所 和久, 教授 鈴木 茂彦, 教授 瀬原 淳子 / 学位規則第4条第1項該当 / Doctor of Medical Science / Kyoto University / DFAM

京都大学 / 0048 / 新制・課程博士 / 博士(理学) / 甲第20207号 / 理博第4292号 / 新制||理||1616(附属図書館) / 京都大学大学院理学研究科生物科学専攻 / (主査)准教授 秋山 秋梅, 教授 沼田 英治, 教授 高橋 淑子 / 学位規則第4条第1項該当 / Doctor of Science / Kyoto University / DFAM

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Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is an extremely aggressive and almost always fatal brain tumor. GBM literature indicates defective mismatch repair (MMR) mechanisms are not involved in GBM tumorigenesis as in other tumors, and instigating mechanisms of GBM tumorigenesis remain unclear. GBM and neural progenitor (NPR) cells were exposed to three concentrations of H2O2 (0, 0.5, and 1.0 μM), cultured, and then harvested 0, 2, 4, and 6 days post-exposure; DNA from cells was amplified with microsatellite primers, investigating whether or not H2O2 exposure affected microsatellite instability (MSI) in target sequences. Three out of six markers showed significant MSI in the H2O2-exposed NPR cells. Our results suggest H2O2, which generates reactive oxygen species (ROS), correlated with MSI accumulation that occurred in NPR cells in specific DNA regions. Thus, gene expression analysis to assess normal and abnormal gene expression of GBM and NPR cellss is warranted.