title: Metallothionein accretion in human hepatic cells is linked to cellular proliferation.
abstract: The basal amounts of metallothionein (MT) and its rates of biosynthesis were compared in resting and proliferating Chang liver (CCl-13) cells. In resting cells the total amounts of the detectable isoforms MT-2 and MT-1e were approx. 1.6x10(6) and 4x10(5) molecules per cell respectively. In exponentially growing cultures the cellular contents of both isoforms increased co-ordinately approx. 4-fold and decreased again to the initial values within 48 h after entering density-mediated growth arrest. As documented for MT-2 its transient accretion was attributable to a 10-fold rise in the rate of biosynthesis of this protein during the growth phase. Measurements of the relative amounts of MT-2 mRNA indicated the occurrence of a more than 50% increase within the first 12 h after subculturing of the cells, followed by a return to basal levels thereafter. These results denote a direct link between the programming of MT synthesis and proliferation and thus attest to a central housekeeping function of the MTs.
authors.affiliation: Biochemisches Institut, Universität Zürich, Switzerland.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Studer
authors.forename: C P
authors.initials: CP
authors.lastname: Vogt
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cavigelli
authors.forename: P E
authors.initials: PE
authors.lastname: Hunziker
authors.forename: J H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Kägi
mesh_terms: D015152:Blotting, Northern; D002455:Cell Division; D002457:Cell Extracts / Q000032:analysis; D002460:Cell Line; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D004247:DNA / Q000096:biosynthesis; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000737:chemistry / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism*; D008668:Metallothionein / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism*; D009693:Nucleic Acid Hybridization; D011506:Proteins / Q000032:analysis; D012313:RNA / Q000302:isolation & purification
chemical_list: D002457:Cell Extracts; D011506:Proteins; D012313:RNA; D004247:DNA; D008668:Metallothionein