| Toxicology, carcinogenicity and clinical/analytical chemistry of metals
Dr. Nieboer is interested in the biochemistry, clinical/analytical chemistry and toxicology of metals. Currently, his laboratory research focuses on aluminum, cadmium, lead, mercury and nickel. Active projects with a biochemical component include: (i) interaction of metal ions with DNA and their conformational and mutational consequences; (ii) linking intracellular concentrations and compartmentalization of metal ions to cytotoxicity and mutagenicity; (iii) environmental factors and the dynamics of metallothionein induction (of both the protein and mRNA) by cadmium and zinc and the implication for biological monitoring; (iv) the development of effective, molecular dosimeters of genetic damage incurred by lead, nickel and selected organic compounds employing current techniques of molecular biology such as PCR, hybridization and sequencing; (v) genotype of Alzheimer's patients in relation to gastrointestinal uptake of aluminum; (vi) biomarkers of inherited and acquired susceptibility to toxic substances; and (vii) surface activity (enzymatic and immunological) of immobilized proteins on nickel beads for therapeutic applications. In support of environmental and occupational health assessment studies, methods are developed and employed for the determination of metals, indicator proteins and metabolites in body fluids of exposed individuals. | 