title: The legless lizard Anguis fragilis (slow worm) has a potent metal-responsive transcription factor 1 (MTF-1).
abstract: The metal-responsive transcription factor-1 (MTF-1) is a key regulator of heavy metal homeostasis and detoxification. Here we characterize the first MTF-1 from a reptile, the slow worm Anguis fragilis. The slow worm, or blind worm, is a legless lizard also known for its long lifespan of up to several decades. Anguis MTF-1 performs well and matches the strong zinc and cadmium response of its human ortholog, clearly surpassing the activity of rodent MTF-1s. Some amino acid positions critical for metal response are the same in humans and slow worm but not in rodent MTF-1. This points to a divergent evolution of rodent MTF-1, and we speculate that rodents can afford a less sophisticated metal handling than humans and (some) reptiles.
authors.forename: Oleg
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Georgiev
authors.forename: Viola
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Günther
authors.forename: Kurt
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Steiner
authors.forename: Katharina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Schönrath
authors.forename: Walter
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Schaffner
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D008116:Lizards / Q000378:metabolism*; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D000097809:Transcription Factor MTF-1
chemical_list: D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D014157:Transcription Factors; D000097809:Transcription Factor MTF-1