Search results for "Metallothioneins"
showing 4 items of 4 documents
GENE STRUCTURE, DIFFERENTIAL EXPRESSION AND PHYLOGENETIC ANALYSIS OF THE METALLOTHIONEIN GENE FAMILY OF THE SEA URCHIN PARACENTROTUS LIVIDUS
2017
Metallothioneins (MT) are small and cysteine-rich proteins that bind metal ions such as zinc, copper, cadmium, and nickel1. Several functions were proposed for these peptides, ranging from toxic metal protection to physiological metal homeostasis, free radical scavenging, oxidative stress protection, antiapoptotic defense, control of the redox status of the cell and also roles during development. Previously, we reported the identification of five different MT homologues (PlMT4-8) from the Mediterranean sea urchin species P. lividus2. In order to shed some light on MT gene structure and evolution, we cloned seven P. lividus MT genes, comparing them to Echinodermata and Chordata genes3. Moreo…
Toxic mineral elements in Mytilus galloprovincialis from Sicilian coasts (Southern Italy)
2019
We assessed the relationship between V, Cr, Mn, Hg, As, Cd, Sn, Sb and Pb concentrations in Mytilus galloprovincialis samples from the coasts of Sicily and the expression of metallothioneins. Toxic mineral elements assessment was carried out by A.A. Spectrometry and ICP-MS. The metallothioneins expression was performed by q-PCR method. Low metals' levels were found in the mussel samples examined, in comparison with what was reported in literature. The highest mean values of toxic mineral elements were found in Gela (Cr 0.178 +/- 0.03 mg/Kg, Mn 4.325 +/- 0.012 mg/Kg, As 3.706 +/- 0.009 mg/Kg, Sn 0.148 +/- 0.014 mg/Kg, Sb 0.009 +/- 0.004 mg/Kg e Pb 0.364 +/- 0.01 mg/Kg). Significant levels of…
Are zinc-bound metallothionein isoforms (I+II and III) involved in impaired thymulin production and thymic involution during ageing?
2004
Abstract Background With advancing age, thymic efficiency shows progressive decline due to thymic involution allowing impaired cell-mediated immunity and the appearance of age-related diseases. The intrinsic cause of thymic involution is still undefined. Chronic inflammation and high glucocorticoids (GCs) may be involved. However, transgenic mice, with increased GC sensitivity and over expression of GC receptors, display delayed age-associated thymic involution. This fact suggests that other substances may affect thymic involution. Among them, both isoforms of metallothioneins (MTs) I+II and III are the major candidates because their increments leads to organ atrophy in constant stress and …
Metalotioneiny i motywy policysteinylowe : oddziaływanie z jonami metali
2018
Many of biochemical paths and processes require some metal ions to occur. There are also known the negative effects of the presence of metal ions in the organism. The both sides of metal ions interactions on the living organism require specific regulations and cannot be left without supervision and control of the organism itself. One of the strategy to keep the control on metal ions are cystein-rich proteins that play crucial role in detoxication of metal ions that are dangerous for human organism as well as they help to maintain homeostasis of essential metal ions. Matallothioneins are one of the well known, but still not fully understood, cysteine- rich proteins. They are small proteins b…