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Review
. 1998 Jul 21;95(15):8428-30.
doi: 10.1073/pnas.95.15.8428.

The elusive function of metallothioneins

R D Palmiter  1
Affiliations
Review

The elusive function of metallothioneins

R D Palmiter. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. .

Abstract

Biochemistry and genetics are both required to elucidate the function of macromolecules. There is no question that metallothioneins (MTs) have unique biochemical properties, but genetic experiments have not substantiated the importance of MTs under physiological conditions. Even after thousands of studies describing the structure, biochemical characteristics, tissue distribution, induction, and consequences of genetic disruption and deliberate overexpression, the evolutionary forces that led to the initial appearance, gene duplications, and nearly ubiquitous expression of MTs remain enigmatic.

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