title: Uptake of cadmium is diminished in transfected mouse NIH/3T3 cells enriched for metallothionein.
abstract: To determine the relationship between cellular uptake of cadmium and content of metallothionein, we measured uptake of 109Cd in cells that differed in content of metallothionein (MT). MT cells were derived from NIH/3T3 cells by transfection with a plasmid containing the genome of bovine papilloma virus and the mouse metallothionein-I gene, driven by the promotor for the glucose-regulated protein of 78 kDa. Control cells were similarly transfected with bovine papilloma virus-based plasmids with the gene for metallothionein inverted and thus separated from the promoter (TM), or deleted, along with the promoter (BPA). The number of copies of bovine papilloma virus-based plasmids was similar in MT, TM, and BPA cells, approximately 100 per cell. MT cells were more than 10 times more resistant to the lethal effect of cadmium than were the control cells. Synthesis of metallothionein was 15-fold greater in the MT cells than in the TM or BPA cells. The uptake of 109Cd by the cells enriched in metallothionein was 4-fold less than by the control cells. These data suggest that an increased content of metallothionein may protect some cells from the toxic effects of cadmium, in part, by diminishing uptake of the metal.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, University of Utah Medical School, Salt Lake City 84132.
authors.forename: K A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Morton
authors.forename: B J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Jones
authors.forename: M H
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Sohn
authors.forename: A E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Schaefer
authors.forename: R C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Phelps
authors.forename: F L
authors.initials: FL
authors.lastname: Datz
authors.forename: R E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Lynch
mesh_terms: D016475:3T3 Cells; D000818:Animals; D001692:Biological Transport; D052688:Bovine papillomavirus 1 / Q000235:genetics; D002104:Cadmium / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000494:pharmacology; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D002872:Chromosome Deletion; D003545:Cysteine / Q000378:metabolism; D000091342:Endoplasmic Reticulum Chaperone BiP; D005822:Genetic Vectors; D006360:Heat-Shock Proteins; D008668:Metallothionein / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D051379:Mice; D018832:Molecular Chaperones; D010641:Phenotype; D010957:Plasmids; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic; D015183:Restriction Mapping; D014162:Transfection
chemical_list: D002352:Carrier Proteins; D000091342:Endoplasmic Reticulum Chaperone BiP; D006360:Heat-Shock Proteins; D018832:Molecular Chaperones; D002104:Cadmium; D008668:Metallothionein; D003545:Cysteine