Mammalian metallothioneins: properties and functions.
Metallothioneins (MT) are a family of ubiquitous proteins, whose role is still discussed in numerous papers, but their affinity to some metal ions is undisputable. These cysteine-rich proteins are connected with antioxidant activity and protective effects on biomolecules against free radicals, especially reactive oxygen species. In this review, the connection between zinc(II) ions, reactive oxygen species, heavy metal ions and metallothioneins is demonstrated with respect to effect of these proteins on cell proliferation and a possible negative role in resistance to heavy metal-based and non-heavy metal-based drugs.
Central European Institute of Technology, Brno University of Technology, Technicka 3058/10, CZ-616 00 Brno, Czech Republic.
Petr
P
Babula
Michal
M
Masarik
Vojtech
V
Adam
Tomas
T
Eckschlager
Marie
M
Stiborova
Libuse
L
Trnkova
Helena
H
Skutkova
Ivo
I
Provaznik
Jaromir
J
Hubalek
Rene
R
Kizek
D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D017209:Apoptosis; D002104:Cadmium / Q000378:metabolism; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D019008:Drug Resistance, Neoplasm; D005609:Free Radicals / Q000378:metabolism; D005978:Glutathione / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008668:Metallothionein / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism*; D008670:Metals / Q000378:metabolism*; D008958:Models, Molecular; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D005609:Free Radicals; D008670:Metals; D002104:Cadmium; D008668:Metallothionein; D005978:Glutathione