金属硫蛋白生物学功能研究进展

Progress on Biological Functions of Metallothionein

金属硫蛋白是一类广泛存在于生物界的低分子量富含半胱氨酸的金属结合蛋白,因其独特的生物学功能,近年来国内外对金属硫蛋白各方面的研究日益受到重视。论文对金属硫蛋白参与体内微量元素储存、运输和代谢的作用,以及解重金属中毒、清除自由基和参与应激反应等生物学功能,金属硫蛋白与一些遗传性疾病、神经退行性疾病和心血管疾病的关系进行了综述。同时,对金属硫蛋白在生物学领域、医学保健领域、转基因工程领域、环境检测标志物和疾病防治等方面的应用前景进行了展望,并提出了金属硫蛋白研究中存在的问题及今后研究的方向。

Metallothionein is a class of ubiquitously occurring low-molecular weight, cystein-rich and metalbinding proteins in biologic circles. The study of metallothionein is gradually recognized because of its unique biological roles at home and abroad in recent years. The biological function of metallothionein includes participating in storing, transiting and metabolizing of trace element and stress response, relieving heavy metal poisoning and eliminating free radical. Metallothionein is related closely to hereditary disease, neurodegenerative diseases and angiocardiopathy. Meanwhile, applied prospects of metallothionein were described in areas of biology, medicine, transgenic engineering, environment monitor and disease control in this article. Some questions, which should be solved at present, and research treads of metallotionein in the future were proposed.