Receptor-based developmental and reproductive toxicity of Superfund chemicals

波士顿大学超级基金研究中心的科学主题是基于受体的超级基金化学物质对人类和野生动物发育和繁殖的毒性作用。研究中的化学物质是SRP中心特别感兴趣的有机化合物，它们通过与细胞内称为受体的特定分子相互作用来启动毒性作用。这种相互作用启动了一系列活动，经常导致产生改变细胞发育的新蛋白质。研究范围从基本的实验室调查到大规模的流行病学研究，通过饮用水或超级基金站点周围的人群暴露，或在受污染的港口对鱼类生态进行分子研究。目的是更好地了解接触环境中的有害物质对生殖和发育过程（包括衰老）的干扰所产生的影响。

The scientific theme for the Superfund Research Center at Boston University is receptor-based toxic effects of Superfund chemicals on development and reproduction in humans and wildlife. The chemicals under study are organic compounds of special interest to the SRP Center mandate that initiate their toxic actions by interacting with specific molecules inside cells called receptors. This interaction sets in motion chain of events that often leads to production of new proteins that alter the development of the cells. The research ranges from basic laboratory investigations to large scale epidemiologic studies of populations exposed through drinking water or around a Superfund site or molecular studies of fish ecology in a contaminated harbor. The object is to gain a better understanding of the implications of disturbances of reproductive and developmental processes, including aging, from exposures to hazardous substances in the environment. A special feature is a coordinated set of parallel projects examining molecular and population effects of developmental toxins in the standard laboratory zebra fish model and a widespread environmental sentinel, the killifish. Epidemiological studies of developmental outcomes from exposure to the high-prevalence Superfund chemicals perchloroethylene (PCE, tetrachloroethene), PCBs, the pesticide methoxychlor, phthalate, organotins and metals target knowledge gaps identified as special research needs by EPA/Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR). A major feature is development of novel methods to address some of the most difficult problems associated with the typical hazardous waste epidemiological and toxicological datasets, temporal spatial distribution and interaction in mixtures. A Research Support Core provides expertise for highly sophisticated data analysis of Next Generation Sequencing and computer modeling of molecular structures, techniques used by five of the seven research projects. The Center includes two Core facilities dedicated to translating research for use in risk assessment by state and federal agencies and engaging the public and local health authorities in framing and shaping the scientific research agenda.