Pharmaceutical importance of zinc and metallothionein in cell signaling.

BABULA, Petr, Veronika KOHOUTKOVÁ, Radka OPATŘILOVÁ, Ivana DAŇKOVÁ, Michal MASAŘÍK and René KIZEK. Pharmaceutical importance of zinc and metallothionein in cell signaling. Chimica Oggi/Chemistry today. 2010, vol. 28, No 6, p. 18-21. ISSN 0392-839X.

Basic information

• Original name: Pharmaceutical importance of zinc and metallothionein in cell signaling.
• Authors: BABULA, Petr (203 Czech Republic, belonging to the institution), Veronika KOHOUTKOVÁ (203 Czech Republic, belonging to the institution), Radka OPATŘILOVÁ (203 Czech Republic, belonging to the institution), Ivana DAŇKOVÁ (203 Czech Republic), Michal MASAŘÍK (203 Czech Republic, guarantor) and René KIZEK (203 Czech Republic, belonging to the institution).
• Edition: Chimica Oggi/Chemistry today, 2010, 0392-839X.

Other information

• Original language: English
• Type of outcome: Article in a journal
• Field of Study: 30104 Pharmacology and pharmacy
• Country of publisher: Italy
• Confidentiality degree: is not subject to a state or trade secret
• Impact factor: Impact factor: 0.405
• RIV identification code: RIV/00216224:14110/10:00040866
• Organization unit: Faculty of Medicine
• UT WoS: 000287167100005
• Keywords in English: Metalloprotein; Metal; Transporter; Pathogenesis; Cancer

Abstract

Zinc as an essential element plays the crucial role in many physiological, but also pathological processes - zinc controls cell proliferation, differentiation, and viability including the apoptosis. These facts are especially based on the structural role of zinc ions in many proteins including the transcription factors. Due to the role of zinc in many crucial physiological processes, its homeostasis must be intensively controlled. The controlling mechanisms are based especially on the zinc transporters and low-molecular proteins metallothioneins (MTs) of the molecular weight between 6 and 10 kDa, which were firstly discovered in a horse kidneys as the cadmium binding protein. High affinity of metallothioneins to the zinc ions indicates their significant participation in the physiological, but also pathological processes, which are controlled by zinc. This paper summarizes the connection between metallothioneins and zinc and its significance on the molecular basis.

Abstract (in Czech)

Práce popisuje úlohu zinku ve vnitrobuněčné signalizaci.

Links

• NS10200, research and development project: Name: Nádorové markery, jejich stanovení a korelace s karcinomem prostaty

Investor: Ministry of Health of the CR