Biomaterial Database

Characterisation of six additional human metallothionein genes. 1994

F A Stennard, and A F Holloway, and J Hamilton, and A K West

Department of Biochemistry, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Australia.

Human metallothionein (MT) genes are clustered in a locus on chromosome 16, and this report presents the characterisation of the remaining six univestigated members of the family. Nucleotide sequencing in whole or part suggested that four of these genes, MT1I, MT1J, MT1K and MT1L do not encode expressed MT proteins, based on the presence of structural faults or atypical amino acid assignments. On the other hand, the structures of MT1H and MT1X are consistent with these genes being functional and encoding unique type 1 isoforms. The promoters of both genes conferred activity to CAT expression constructs when transfected into HeLa cells, and showed differential responses to inducers MT synthesis. Endogenous MT1H and MT1X genes were expressed at the mRNA level in HeLa cells following cadmium treatment. This work brings the number of functional class 1 and 2 MT genes in the human to eight, and confirms that each encodes structurally unique proteins.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D008668	Metallothionein	A low-molecular-weight (approx. 10 kD) protein occurring in the cytoplasm of kidney cortex and liver. It is rich in cysteinyl residues and contains no aromatic amino acids. Metallothionein shows high affinity for bivalent heavy metals.	Isometallothionein,Metallothionein A,Metallothionein B,Metallothionein I,Metallothionein II,Metallothionein IIA
D008969	Molecular Sequence Data	Descriptions of specific amino acid, carbohydrate, or nucleotide sequences which have appeared in the published literature and/or are deposited in and maintained by databanks such as GENBANK, European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL), National Biomedical Research Foundation (NBRF), or other sequence repositories.	Sequence Data, Molecular,Molecular Sequencing Data,Data, Molecular Sequence,Data, Molecular Sequencing,Sequencing Data, Molecular
D002885	Chromosomes, Human, Pair 16	A specific pair of GROUP E CHROMOSOMES of the human chromosome classification.	Chromosome 16
D005810	Multigene Family	A set of genes descended by duplication and variation from some ancestral gene. Such genes may be clustered together on the same chromosome or dispersed on different chromosomes. Examples of multigene families include those that encode the hemoglobins, immunoglobulins, histocompatibility antigens, actins, tubulins, keratins, collagens, heat shock proteins, salivary glue proteins, chorion proteins, cuticle proteins, yolk proteins, and phaseolins, as well as histones, ribosomal RNA, and transfer RNA genes. The latter three are examples of reiterated genes, where hundreds of identical genes are present in a tandem array. (King & Stanfield, A Dictionary of Genetics, 4th ed)	Gene Clusters,Genes, Reiterated,Cluster, Gene,Clusters, Gene,Families, Multigene,Family, Multigene,Gene Cluster,Gene, Reiterated,Multigene Families,Reiterated Gene,Reiterated Genes
D006367	HeLa Cells	The first continuously cultured human malignant CELL LINE, derived from the cervical carcinoma of Henrietta Lacks. These cells are used for, among other things, VIRUS CULTIVATION and PRECLINICAL DRUG EVALUATION assays.	Cell, HeLa,Cells, HeLa,HeLa Cell
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000595	Amino Acid Sequence	The order of amino acids as they occur in a polypeptide chain. This is referred to as the primary structure of proteins. It is of fundamental importance in determining PROTEIN CONFORMATION.	Protein Structure, Primary,Amino Acid Sequences,Sequence, Amino Acid,Sequences, Amino Acid,Primary Protein Structure,Primary Protein Structures,Protein Structures, Primary,Structure, Primary Protein,Structures, Primary Protein
D000818	Animals	Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA.	Animal,Metazoa,Animalia
D001483	Base Sequence	The sequence of PURINES and PYRIMIDINES in nucleic acids and polynucleotides. It is also called nucleotide sequence.	DNA Sequence,Nucleotide Sequence,RNA Sequence,DNA Sequences,Base Sequences,Nucleotide Sequences,RNA Sequences,Sequence, Base,Sequence, DNA,Sequence, Nucleotide,Sequence, RNA,Sequences, Base,Sequences, DNA,Sequences, Nucleotide,Sequences, RNA
D001616	beta-Galactosidase	A group of enzymes that catalyzes the hydrolysis of terminal, non-reducing beta-D-galactose residues in beta-galactosides. Deficiency of beta-Galactosidase A1 may cause GANGLIOSIDOSIS, GM1.	Lactases,Dairyaid,Lactaid,Lactogest,Lactrase,beta-D-Galactosidase,beta-Galactosidase A1,beta-Galactosidase A2,beta-Galactosidase A3,beta-Galactosidases,lac Z Protein,Protein, lac Z,beta D Galactosidase,beta Galactosidase,beta Galactosidase A1,beta Galactosidase A2,beta Galactosidase A3,beta Galactosidases