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The Two Isoforms Of Rat Metallothionein Are Coordinately Regulated In Vivo, Diane M. Todd

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Metallothionein (MT) is an inducible protein whose unique structure contributes to its many functions. One of MT’s functions is the detoxification of heavy metals. Cadmium (Cd), which is an environmental pollutant and a hazard to both humans and animals, is detoxified by MT. There are four known MT isoforms (MT I-IV) and this study focuses on only MT I and MT II. Even though a lot is known about the effect of Cd on MT induction little has been reported about the MT isoforms and their pattern of mRNA expression. It is the aim of this study to investigate the …