The functions, purposes, and roles of metallothioneins have been the subject of
speculations since the discovery of the protein over 60 years ago. This article guides …

Biology capitalizes on the specific chemistries of certain transition metal ions. In fact, life
depends on transition metal ions as essential trace elements. Biological redox processes …

Zn2+ ions are essential in many physiological processes, including enzyme catalysis,
protein structural stabilization, and the regulation of many proteins. The affinities of proteins …

Essential metal ions are tightly controlled in biological systems. An understanding of metal
metabolism and homeostasis is being developed from quantitative information of the sizes …

Metallothioneins are cysteine-rich, small metal-binding proteins present in various
mammalian tissues. Of the four common metallothioneins, MT-1 and MT-2 (MTs) are …

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 …

The detrimental health effects of cadmium (Cd) were first described in the mid 19th century.
As part of industrial developments, increasing usage of Cd has led to widespread …

Zinc (II) ions are essential for all forms of life. In humans, they have catalytic and structural
functions in an estimated 3,000 zinc proteins. In addition, they interact with proteins …

Free zinc ions are potent effectors of proteins. Their tightly controlled fluctuations (“zinc
signals”) in the picomolar range of concentrations modulate cellular signaling pathways …

Metallothionein (MT) is a generic name for certain families of structurally rather variable
metal-binding proteins. While purely chemical or biological approaches failed to establish a …