The effects of heavy metals (Zn 2+ , Cu 2+ , and/or Cd 2+ ) on Escherichia coli expressing either prion (hPrP C ) or metallothionein 3 (MT-3) brain proteins capable of binding these metals were investigated. The expression of hPrP C or MT-3 in E.coli was confirmed using western-blot and dot-blot methods. After analyzing growth curves, we found that bacteria expressing prion protein better toler...

Metallothioneins (MT) constitute a superfamily of small cytosolic proteins that are able to bind metal cations through numerous cysteine (Cys) residues. Like other organisms the ciliate Tetrahymena thermophila presents several MT isoforms, which have been classified into two subfamilies (Cd- and Cu-metallothioneins). The main aim of this study was to examine the specific functions and transcrip...

Metal ion homeostasis and heavy metal detoxification systems are regulated by certain genes associated with metal ion transport. Metallothionein (MT) and metal response element binding transcription factor 1 (MTF‑1) are important regulatory proteins involved in the mediation of intracellular metal ion balance. Differences in the zinc‑binding affinities of the zinc fingers of MTF‑1 and the α‑ an...

Genistin has antioxidant activities; however, its insolubility in water often limits its biological availability in vivo. Using a novel transglycosylation process, the solubility of genistin glycosides was increased 1000 to 10000-fold, but it was not known whether these modified genistin glycosides maintained antioxidant activity. We found that both genistin and its glycosides similarly up-regu...

Mammalian metallothionein (MT) genes are transcriptionally activated by the essential metal zinc as well as by environmental stresses, including toxic metal overload and redox fluctuations. In addition to playing a key role in zinc homeostasis, MT proteins can protect against metal- and oxidant-induced cellular damage, and may participate in other fundamental physiologic and pathologic processe...

Silver (Ag) possesses antibacterial activity and has been used in wound dressings and deodorant powders worldwide. However, the metabolic behavior and biological roles of Ag in mammals have not been well characterized. In the present study, we exposed human bronchial epithelial cells (BEAS-2B) to AgNO3 and investigated uptake and intracellular distribution of Ag, expression of metallothionein (...

Transfection of Brassica campestris leaves with cauliflower mosaic virus (CaMV) harboring a mammalian metallothionein (MT) cDNA at the ORFII position lowered the glucosinolate (GS) concentration to approximately one-half the level in leaves infected with wild-type CaMV. This suppression was independent of the plant's sulfate status, suggesting that the pathways for protein (MT) and GS biosynthe...

The high affinity copper transporter 1 (Ctr1), metallothionein (MT) and glutathione reductase (GR) are essential for copper uptake, sequestration and defense respectively. Following rearing on a normal commercial diet (12.6+/-0.2 mg kg(-1) Cu), sea bream were fed an experimental control diet lacking mineral mix (7.7+/-0.3 mg kg(-1) Cu), an experimental diet enhanced with Cu (135+/-4 mg kg(-1) C...

Pressure treatment with chromium, copper, and arsenic (CCA) is the most prevalent method for protecting wood used in outdoor construction projects. Although these metals are tightly bound to the wood fibers and are not released under most conditions of use, we examined the bioavailability of metals in CCA pressure-treated wood dust in vitro. Cytotoxicity and metallothionein (MT) mRNA expression...

Metallothioneins play a key role in maintaining homeostasis of essential metalsand in protecting of cells against metal toxicity as well as oxidative damaging. Exceptinghumans, blood levels of metallothionein have not yet been reported from any animalspecies. Blood plasma samples of 9 animal species were analysed by the adsorptive transferstripping technique to obtain species specific voltammog...