Regulatory role of metallothionein in NF-kappa B activation

Citation
A. Sakurai et al., Regulatory role of metallothionein in NF-kappa B activation, FEBS LETTER, 455(1-2), 1999, pp. 55-58
Citations number
24
Categorie Soggetti
Biochemistry & Biophysics
Journal title
FEBS LETTERS
ISSN journal
00145793 → ACNP
Volume
455
Issue
1-2
Year of publication
1999
Pages
55 - 58
Database
ISI
SICI code
0014-5793(19990716)455:1-2<55:RROMIN>2.0.ZU;2-S
Abstract
Metallothionein (MT), a low molecular weight, cysteine-rich metal binding p rotein, has been associated with cytoprotection from heavy metals and cellu lar oxidants, As MT has the ability to scavenge hydroxyl radicals, MT may c ontrol intracellular redox status. In the present study, we examined whethe r MT regulates the activity of nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-kappa B), which i s one of the redox-regulated transcription factors, using the MT null embry onic cell lines established from MT null mice. We first found that tumor ne crosis factor (TNF)-induced activation of the binding of NF-kappa B protein to DNA in wild type MT+/+ cells was lower than that in MT-/- cells. The NF -kappa B activation in MT-expressing cells established from MT-/- cells by the transfection of mouse MT-I gene was also significantly tower than that in MT-/- cells, In addition, transfection of the MT gene inhibited TNF-indu ced I kappa B degradation and suppressed NF-kappa B-dependent gene expressi on induced by TNF, These results demonstrate that MT may function as a nega tive regulator of NF-kappa B activity. (C) 1999 Federation of European Bioc hemical Societies.