Review
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Hai-tao Yu, Juan Zhen, Ji-yan Leng, Lu Cai, Hong-lei Ji, Bradley B. Keller
Summary: Cadmium is a significant environmental pollutant linked to various health issues, while zinc has been shown to alleviate cadmium toxicity through mechanisms like direct competition for cellular uptake and induction of protective mechanisms. Future research directions on the role of zinc and metal transporters in reducing cadmium toxicity are discussed in this review.
ACTA PHARMACOLOGICA SINICA
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Shoko Ogushi, Tomoki Kimura
Summary: Metallothioneins (MTs) are low-molecular-weight proteins that protect cells from heavy metal toxicity. MT1 and MT2 are ubiquitously expressed among the MT isoforms and their transcriptions are regulated by MTF1 binding to the MRE of the promoter. Different MT isoforms have different expressions, and MT1A is less responsive to zinc stimulation compared to MT1E, MT1G, MT1X, and MT2A possibly due to a lower MTF1 binding affinity in its promoter region. These findings help understand the differential regulation of MT isoform expression.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Fen-Fen Liu, Md. Abul Kalam Azad, Zhi-He Li, Jing Li, Kai-Bin Mo, Heng-Jia Ni
Summary: This study compared the effects of different zinc supplementation forms on piglets, showing that adding Zn-Met in feed and ZnSO4 dissolved in drinking water had higher bioavailability, increasing zinc concentration in the liver and jejunum, improving alkaline phosphatase and total superoxide dismutase activities, and enhancing metallothionein expression.
Review
Nutrition & Dietetics
Hiroki Nishikawa, Akira Asai, Shinya Fukunishi
Summary: Zinc is an essential trace element for the maintenance of life. Zinc deficiency in patients with chronic liver disease (CLD) is closely related to liver fibrosis, liver carcinogenesis, and muscle wastage.
Article
Physiology
Xiaohui Chen, Chao He, Keying Zhang, Jianping Wang, Xuemei Ding, Qiufeng Zeng, Huanwei Peng, Jie Bai, Li Lv, Yue Xuan, Shiping Bai
Summary: The study compared the bioavailability of zinc from zinc-glycine and zinc-methionine in broilers. The results showed that zinc-methionine had higher bioavailable zinc than zinc-glycine, using pancreas metallothionein concentration as the response criterion.
FRONTIERS IN PHYSIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Alevtina Mikhaylina, Luke Scott, David J. J. Scanlan, Claudia A. A. Blindauer
Summary: Bacterial metallothioneins, such as SynBmtA, have been found to possess unique zinc-binding properties and high protein stability. This suggests their important role in safely storing and sequestering excess zinc.
JOURNAL OF INORGANIC BIOCHEMISTRY
(2022)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Christopher Hubner, Hajo Haase
Summary: Zinc and ROS play roles in various physiological functions and are connected through their interaction with sulfur, forming a triad. Zinc can translate redox signals into zinc signals by binding to and releasing from thiols, affecting thiol oxidation and protein activity. The reciprocal interaction between zinc and redox-signaling involves shared molecular targets like active site cysteine thiols in PTP, showcasing their complex interplay on multiple levels.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Lina Chouchene, Kaouthar Kessabi, Marie-Madeleine Gueguen, Olivier Kah, Farzad Pakdel, Imed Messaoudi
Summary: This study provides new insights into the mechanisms of cadmium-induced toxicity in zebrafish larvae and the potential role of zinc in reversing these harmful effects. The results suggest that cadmium interferes with zinc metabolism, leading to its depletion and oxidative stress. However, supplementation of zinc can partially reverse the toxic effects of cadmium, possibly through its interaction with the toxic metal and improvement of oxidative status.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Sindhunath Chakraborty, Samujjal Bhattacharjee, Balkrishna Tiwari, Tameshwar Jaishwal, Satya Shila Singh, Arun Kumar Mishra
Summary: This study investigates the impact of zinc stress on the proteome of Anabaena sphaerica and reveals the molecular mechanisms of zinc tolerance. The cyanobacteria reduce the expression of certain proteins to conserve energy and enhance the expression of metallothionein and antioxidative proteins to chelate and detoxify excess zinc ions. Additionally, the overexpression of certain enzymes and synthesis of antioxidant proteins suggest cysteine synthesis under sulfur deprivation. A. sphaerica also exhibits high zinc biosorption efficiency, confirming its potential for zinc bioremediation.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Nutrition & Dietetics
Stephen R. Hennigar, Alyssa M. Kelley, Bradley J. Anderson, Nicholes J. Armstrong, Holly L. McClung, Claire E. Berryman, J. Philip Karl, James P. McClung
Summary: The study demonstrated that MT2A mRNA in PBMCs can reflect dietary zinc intake in healthy adults, potentially serving as a component in determining zinc status.
BRITISH JOURNAL OF NUTRITION
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Ettore Priante, Edoardo Pietropoli, Elisabetta Piva, Gianfranco Santovito, Sophia Schumann, Paola Irato
Summary: The study aimed to evaluate the effects of zinc and the role of MTF-1 in cadmium-induced toxicity. The results suggest that zinc reduces cadmium content in co-treatments, possibly through competition for a common transporter. Additionally, zinc increases glutathione levels in co-treatments. MTF-1 is essential for the expression of MT-1.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
In-Seo Kwon, Yu-Na Hwang, Ju-Hee Park, Han-Heom Na, Tae-Hyung Kwon, Jin-Sung Park, Keun-Cheol Kim
Summary: In this study, the researchers investigated the mechanism of action of Cannabidiol (CBD) and its effects on colorectal cancer cells. They found that CBD can regulate the expression of genes associated with DNA repair and cell division, particularly the metallothionein (MT) family genes. The expression levels of MT family genes were found to be decreased in colorectal cancer tissues, suggesting a potential association with tumor progression. CBD treatment led to an increase in the expression of MT family genes, and this effect was specific to CBD and not other cannabinoids. Additionally, a synergistic effect was observed between CBD and MT gene transfection or zinc ion treatment. These findings suggest that MT family genes could be novel target genes for enhancing the anticancer activity of CBD in colorectal cancer cells.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Jing Liu, Ermeng Wang, Ziru Cheng, Yuan Gao, Chienmin Chen, Ru Jia, Zhi Luo, Lan Wang
Summary: Cadmium (Cd) is a carcinogenic environmental pollutant that harms male reproductive systems, but the mitigating effects of zinc (Zn) on Cd-induced toxicity have not been fully elucidated. This study investigated the effects of Zn supplementation on Cd-exposed freshwater crabs. Cd exposure caused Cd accumulation, Zn deficiency, decreased sperm survival rate, poor sperm quality, altered ultrastructure, increased apoptosis, and elevated metallothionein (MT) expression in the testis. However, Zn supplementation effectively alleviated these effects by preventing Cd accumulation, increasing Zn bioavailability, alleviating apoptosis, decreasing reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels, and restoring MT distribution. Furthermore, Zn also regulated the expression of apoptosis-related genes and proteins, metal transporter-related genes, and MT expression. These findings provide important insights for the development of mitigation strategies for Cd contamination or poisoning.
ECOTOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Rabina Lakha, Carla Hachicho, Matthew R. Mehlenbacher, Dean E. Wilcox, Rachel N. Austin, Christina L. Vizcarra
Summary: Metallothionein 3 (MT-3) is a protein expressed in the CNS and kidney, but it does not directly bind actin. Instead, it attenuates the fragmentation of actin filaments induced by Cu2+ ions. The effects of Cu2+ can be reversed by adding either EGTA or Zn-bound MT-3, indicating their ability to chelate Cu2+ from actin.
JOURNAL OF INORGANIC BIOCHEMISTRY
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Helena Farese, Melissa Noack, Pierre Miossec
Summary: The study found that PVNS synoviocytes show resistance to Cd-induced cell death and decreased inflammation, suggesting that Cd could be a potential therapeutic tool in treating PVNS.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2022)
