title: Regulation of metallothionein gene expression by oxidative stress and metal ions.
abstract: The metallothioneins (MT) are small, cysteine-rich heavy metal-binding proteins which participate in an array of protective stress responses. Although a single essential function of MT has not been demonstrated, MT of higher eukaryotes evolved as a mechanism to regulate zinc levels and distribution within cells and organisms. These proteins can also protect against some toxic metals and oxidative stress-inducing agents. In mice, among the four known MT genes, the MT-I and -II genes are most widely expressed. Transcription of these genes is rapidly and dramatically up-regulated in response to zinc and cadmium, as well as in response to agents which cause oxidative stress and/or inflammation. The six zinc-finger metal-responsive transcription factor MTF-1 plays a central role in transcriptional activation of the MT-I gene in response to metals and oxidative stress. Mutation of the MTF-1 gene abolishes these responses, and MTF-1 is induced to bind to the metal response elements in proximal MT promoter in cells treated with zinc or during oxidative stress. The exact molecular mechanisms of action of MTF-1 are not fully understood. Our studies suggest that the DNA-binding activity of MTF-1 in vivo and in vitro is reversibly activated by zinc interactions with the zinc-finger domain. This reflects heterogeneity in the structure and function of the six zinc fingers. We hypothesize that MTF-1 functions as a sensor of free zinc pools in the cell. Changes in free zinc may occur in response to chemically diverse inducers. MTF-1 also exerts effects on MT-I gene transcription which are independent of a large increase in MTF-1 DNA-binding activity. For example, cadmium, which has little effect on the DNA-binding activity of MTF-1 in vivo or in vitro, is a more potent inducer of MT gene expression than is zinc. The basic helix-loop-helix-leucine zipper protein, USF (upstream stimulatory factor family), also plays a role in regulating transcription of the mouse MT-I gene in response to cadmium or H2O2. Expression of dominant negative USF-1 or deletion of its binding site from the proximal promoter attenuates induction of the mouse MT-I gene. USF apparently functions in this context by interacting with as yet unidentified proteins which bind to an antioxidant response element which overlaps the USF-binding site (USF/ARE). Interestingly, this composite element does not participate in the induction of MT-I gene transcription by zinc or redox-cycling quinones. Thus, regulation of the mouse MT-I gene by metals and oxidative stress involves multiple signaling pathways which depend on the species of metal ion and the nature of the oxidative stress.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City 66160-7421, USA. gandrews@kumc.edu
authors.forename: G K
authors.initials: GK
authors.lastname: Andrews
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D002104:Cadmium / Q000378:metabolism*; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D008668:Metallothionein / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000502:physiology*; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000378:metabolism; D051720:Upstream Stimulatory Factors; D015032:Zinc / Q000378:metabolism*; D000097809:Transcription Factor MTF-1
chemical_list: D002104:Cadmium; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D008668:Metallothionein; D014157:Transcription Factors; D051720:Upstream Stimulatory Factors; D015032:Zinc; D000097809:Transcription Factor MTF-1; C497183:Usf1 protein, mouse