EUKARYOTIC GENE REGULATION AND FUNCTION--THE METALLOTHIONEIN SYSTEM

金属硫蛋白的调节和功能正在通过 哺乳动物细胞中的分子遗传学和生物化学方法， 酵母 人金属硫蛋白基因表现出细胞特异性表达， 可以被ras癌基因改变。 表达的特异性是 与蛋白质的不同金属结合特性相关。 正在尝试检测和分离细胞因子 参与重金属和其他物质的调节。 一 酵母的铜诱导金属硫蛋白样蛋白已经被 被证明有两个功能：铜解毒和负 自身表达的自我调节。 这两种功能都是由 哺乳动物金属硫蛋白，证明了 高等和低等真核系统。

The regulation and function of metallothioneins are being analyzed by molecular genetic and biochemical approaches in both mammalian cells and yeast. Human metallothionein genes exhibit cell-specific expression that can be altered by the ras oncogene. The specificity of expression is correlated with differential metal-binding properties of the proteins. Attempts are in progress to detect and isolate the cellular factors involved in regulation by heavy metals and other agents. A copper-inducible metallothionein-like protein of yeast has been demonstrated to serve two functions: copper detoxification and negative autoregulation of its own expression. Both functions are complemented by mammalian metallothionein demonstrating the functional analogy between the higher and lower eukaryotic systems.