title: [Research progress in brain-specific metallothionein-III].
abstract: Metallothionein-III (MT-III) is a low molecular weight protein characterized by its abundant content of cysteins. It is predominantly expressed in the zinc-containing neurons and associated with the development of brain. MT-III inhibits the survival and neurite formation of the cultured neurons in vitro. It has comparatively specific affinity for zinc, thus may regulate the zinc-dependent biological processes. Studies demonstrating that MT-III is down-regulated in Alzheimer's disease and that MT-III "knockout" mice appear highly sensitive to kainate-induced seizures suggest that it may play important roles in some degenerative diseases of the brain.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Xinqiao Hospital, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing 400037.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zheng
mesh_terms: D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000378:metabolism; D001921:Brain / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D006801:Humans; D000090023:Metallothionein 3; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D009474:Neurons / Q000378:metabolism; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D015032:Zinc / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000090023:Metallothionein 3; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D015032:Zinc