Bannister Richard, Beresford Nicola, May Denise, Routledge Edwin J, Jobling Susan, Rand-Weaver Mariann
Institute for the Environment, Brunel University, Uxbridge, Middlesex, UB8 3PH, UK.
Environ Sci Technol. 2007 Apr 1;41(7):2643-50. doi: 10.1021/es062565m.
We have isolated novel molluskan steroid receptor transcripts orthologous to vertebrate estrogen receptors (ERs) and estrogen receptor-related receptors (ERRs) from the freshwater snail Marisa cornuarietis. Radiolabeled ligand binding analyses showed that neither recombinant receptor protein specifically bound 17beta-estradiol over the range applied (0.3-9.6 nM). These novel receptor transcripts have thus been designated mcER-like and mcERR respectively. Quantitative PCR revealed mcER-like to be expressed ubiquitously throughout a range of male and female structures studied, including neural and reproductive tissues. Highest absolute levels were seen in the male penis-sheath complex. The mcERR mRNA was also expressed ubiquitously throughout all male and female tissues analyzed here, with very low absolute transcript numbers in female accessory sex structures compared to other tissues.
