Skip Navigation

University of Arizona

Superfund Research Program

Molecular Effects of Low Level Exposure to Arsenic

Project Leader: A. Jay Gandolfi
Grant Number: P42ES004940
Funding Period: 2000-2015

Project-Specific Links

Connect with the Grant Recipients

Visit the grantee's eNewsletter page Visit the grantee's eNewsletter page Visit the grantee's Twitter page Visit the grantee's Instagram page Visit the grantee's Video page

Project Summary (2000-2005)

Arsenic (As) is an inorganic environmental contaminant of major concern in the desert Southwest due to its ubiquitous presence and its occurrence in drinking waters. Chronic exposure to arsenic frequently results in skin, lung, bladder, and kidney cancer. The hypothesis of this research is that inorganic arsenicals regulate specific genes and, therefore, specific proteins. It is the activity of these proteins that is responsible for the toxic effects observed from low level chronic exposure. Two target tissues (kidney and skin) are being studied to demonstrate the uniformity or specificity of the signaling and gene responses to arsenic exposure. These investigations are utilizing only low level arsenic exposures. Once a specific protein involved in arsenic signal transduction is identified, the researchers determine how arsenic affects the activity of that protein and whether the activity of that protein correlates with cytotoxicity. The study of these two tissues will provide a further understanding of the importance of the arsenic-induced signaling processes and gene expression that are responsible for tissue injury.

Back
to Top