Metallothionein Determination Can Be Applied to Learn about Aquatic Metal Pollution and Oxidative Stress Detoxification Mechanisms through Problem-Based Learning

A simple, repeatable and inexpensive laboratory practice applied to teach and discuss aquatic metal pollution and oxidative stress detoxification mechanisms through biomarker analyses, as well as important ecotoxicology concepts, is presented herein. It has been implemented in a university in Brazil to both undergraduate and Master's and PhD students, indicating usefulness to all these levels. Students learned to detect metallothionein and reduced glutathione concentrations in biological samples and investigate several variables of interest in biomonitoring assessments. In addition, statistical correlations were used to indicate the potential dual role played by MT in aquatic organisms, allowing for biological inferences regarding both aquatic metal pollution and oxidative stress detoxification mechanisms and maturing of ecotoxicological and biomonitoring concepts discussed and presented both theoretically and integrated to the laboratory findings.