title: Regulation in vitro of metallothionein gene binding factors.
abstract: Mouse nuclear factors that bind to an upstream metal regulatory element of the mouse metallothionein-I gene have been identified by DNA footprinting and oligonucleotide band shift assays. The formation of complexes at this site can be activated 20- to 40-fold by the vitro addition of ionic cadmium. The activation reaction is rapid, reversible by a metal chelator, and may involve multiple proteins. These results suggest that the initial step in cadmium detoxification is an interaction between the metal and nuclear DNA-binding factors leading to an increase in metallothionein gene transcription. The ability to observe metal activation in vitro makes this a powerful system to study the biochemistry of eukaryotic gene regulation.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D002104:Cadmium / Q000494:pharmacology; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000032:analysis; D004247:DNA / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D003850:Deoxyribonuclease I; D004492:Edetic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology; D005090:Exodeoxyribonucleases; D005809:Genes, Regulator; D008668:Metallothionein / Q000235:genetics*; D051379:Mice; D009841:Oligonucleotides / Q000235:genetics; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000378:metabolism; D014158:Transcription, Genetic
chemical_list: D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D009841:Oligonucleotides; D014157:Transcription Factors; D002104:Cadmium; D004247:DNA; D008668:Metallothionein; D004492:Edetic Acid; D005090:Exodeoxyribonucleases; C020133:exodeoxyribonuclease III; D003850:Deoxyribonuclease I