Project Ideas

The main focus of the project is to investigate the effects of xenobiotics on gene expression in selected invertebrate organisms. Xenobiotics include a wide variety of chemicals that in the broadest sense refer to components that are not part of the biochemical make-up of an organisms ( e.g. foreign to the organism). I am currently screening a host of proteins that may be targeted for up- or down-regulation following exposure to such xenobiotics. The following proteins are candidate targets for this project.

• With respect to pollutant exposure, both Cu/ZnSOD and MnSOD (superoxide dismutases) tend to be upregulated following exposure to heavy metals. The same holds true for a host of metallothioneins, small proteins that respond to metal exposure. We have recently identified the complete cDNA sequence of a crustacean cMnSOD. The sequence has been posted on the NCBI GenBank and published the data in 2009.
• The following new projects were started with the help of dedicated students .
  • Identification and sequencing of mitochondrial MnSOD in crawfish, fiddler crab, planarian and a few annelids
  • Identification and sequencing of CuZn MnSOD in some annelids
  • Identification and sequencing of Catalase in annelids
  • Search for introns/exons in some of these SOD genes


• In order to compare expression levels, we also need the sequences of house keeping genes. The sequences of these genes are currently not available for the animals we are working with. We are thus working on obtaining these conserved, although unknown sequences as well.


• As a personal challange I am currently also engaged in obtaining the full mitochondrial sequence of an oligochaete. Additionally, I recently published a paper on Lombricine Kinase, a typical oligochaete energy metabolism enzyme. I am planning on obtaining more information from additional oligochaetes.


• Finally, future plans include the analysis of heavy metals accumulation in certain annelids as well as the efect of such exposures on gene expression. This will involve a collaborative effort with Chemistry Faculty.

Obviously, the progress of this project will be determined by my primary responsibility at Collin College, which is teaching . In addition, equipment availability may limit the scope of the project. Nonetheless, we have made great progress thanks to CASMNS, the Biotechnology lab and the positive support of the College. The fact that we were able to post a partial sequence ( and more to come) on the NCBI GenBank is a great feather in the cap of Collin College for its dedication to keeping pace with Education in Biotechnology through hands-on experience.

Dr. C. Doumen - 2010