Mammalian Metallothionein-3: New Functional and Structural Insights.

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Vasak M, Meloni G

Mammalian Metallothionein-3: New Functional and Structural Insights.

Int J Mol Sci. 2017 May 24;18(6). pii: ijms18061117. doi: 10.3390/ijms18061117.

PubMed ID

28538697 [ View in PubMed

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Abstract

Metallothionein-3 (MT-3), a member of the mammalian metallothionein (MT) family, is mainly expressed in the central nervous system (CNS). MT-3 possesses a unique neuronal growth inhibitory activity, and the levels of this intra- and extracellularly occurring metalloprotein are markedly diminished in the brain of patients affected by a number of metal-linked neurodegenerative disorders, including Alzheimer's disease (AD). In these pathologies, the redox cycling of copper, accompanied by the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), plays a key role in the neuronal toxicity. Although MT-3 shares the metal-thiolate clusters with the well-characterized MT-1 and MT-2, it shows distinct biological, structural and chemical properties. Owing to its anti-oxidant properties and modulator function not only for Zn, but also for Cu in the extra- and intracellular space, MT-3, but not MT-1/MT-2, protects neuronal cells from the toxicity of various Cu(II)-bound amyloids. In recent years, the roles of zinc dynamics and MT-3 function in neurodegeneration are slowly emerging. This short review focuses on the recent developments regarding the chemistry and biology of MT-3.

DrugBank Data that Cites this Article

Drug Targets

Drug	Target	Kind	Organism	Pharmacological Action	Actions
Zinc chloride	Metallothionein-3	Protein	Humans	Unknown	Cofactor	Details
Zinc sulfate, unspecified form	Metallothionein-3	Protein	Humans	Unknown	Cofactor	Details