What is metallothionein promoter?

Abstract. The promoter from the metallothionein gene may be a useful conditional promoter for the construction of chimeric genes to be expressed in Drosophila cells in culture.

What is metallothionein gene?

Metallothionein (MT) genes encode small proteins that chelate metal ions through metal-thiolate bonds with cysteine residues. MTs may have a role in cellular zinc homeostasis and metal detoxification.

What is the role of metallothionein?

Metallothioneins (MTs) are small cysteine-rich proteins that play important roles in metal homeostasis and protection against heavy metal toxicity, DNA damage, and oxidative stress.

What is metallothionein made of?

Metallothionein (MT) is a low molecular mass metal-binding protein of approximately 6500 Da, with a composition of approximately 30% thiol-containing cysteine residues. Two distinct metal-binding domains, the α- and β-clusters, have been characterized in MT and are formed by the 61 amino acids in human MT.

What role does the protein metallothionein play?

Metallothioneins (MTs) are a family of small, highly conserved, cysteine-rich metal-binding proteins that are important for zinc and copper homeostasis, protection against oxidative stress, and buffering against toxic heavy metals.

Where is metallothionein produced?

Metallothionein is a cytoplasmic protein, in an adult liver, it is localized mainly in the cytoplasm. In human fetus, metallothionein is localized in hepatocyte nuclei.

What is the importance of metallothionein?

Abstract. Metallothioneins are a family of proteins which are able to bind metals intracellularly, so their main function is to regulate the cellular metabolism of essential metals.

How is metallothionein made?

Metallothionein is a cysteine-rich protein involved in metal detoxification, which can be induced by many heavy metals including cadmium, and which is also photoprotective [105]. Metallothionein is also induced through a process of increased gene transcription by 1,25(OH)2D3 [106].