ABSTRACT
Despite the fact that MTs were first identified as detoxification agents capable of protecting cells from the effects of heavy metals, further studies indicated two major roles of the MTs in the metabolism of Zn: (1) the regulation of MT gene expression by multiple Zn-dependent proteins and (2 ) the relationship between Zn release from MT and the glutathione redox couple. The biological function of a new class of MTs (GIF) isolated from brain may be unrelated to Zn metabolism and/or heavy metal detoxification [5,91]. The structural determination and the biochemical characteriza tion of these proteins are prerequisites for understanding the molecular mechanism of their action and its correlation with their structural features. This should also be helpful in clarifying the evolutionary significance of MTs.
