In vitro evidence for the isoform-specific partitioning of cadmium and zinc ions between the two C. elegans metallothioneins is presented. This observation is discussed in terms of isoform-specific affinities towards zinc and cadmium and the implications of our study on the in vivo roles of C. elegans metallothioneins.

Heteronuclear NMR in combination with isotope labelling is used to study folding of polypeptides induced by metals the case metallothioneins, binding peptidic allosteric modulator ?-TIA human G-protein coupled ?1b adrenergic receptor, development therapeutic drugs that interfere biosynthesis outer membrane Gram-negative bacteria, and a system which protein assembly upon peptide addition. these ...

The clam R. decussatus is a suspension-feeding bivalve mollusc widely distributed in European and Mediterranean coastal waters. Due to its economic importance it is extensively cultured in many countries, and particularly in Portugal where its production represents > 80 % of total shellfish production. The selection of the clam R. decussatus as a bioindicator was a consequence of its economic i...

The proton affinities of a series of monoand polynuclear zinc-thiolate compounds, mimicking zing finger protein and metallothioneins sites, have been investigated by Density Functional Theory calculations. This allows to evaluate the intrinsic nucleophilicity of synthetic and natural zinc-bound thiolates and to compare their relative reactivities. The site specificity of the experimental thiola...

Microalgae are aquatic organisms possessing molecular mechanisms that allow them to discriminate non-essential heavy metals from those essential ones for their growth. The different detoxification processes executed by algae are reviewed with special emphasis on those involving the peptides metallothioneins, mainly the post transcriptionally synthesized class III metallothioneins or phytochelat...