YEAST METALLOTHIONEIN GENE-EXPRESSION IN RESPONSE TO METALS AND OXIDATIVE STRESS

Metals and oxygen are chemically linked in biological systems. Metals and oxygen play important roles in enzymatic reactions, metabolism, an d signal transduction; however, metals and oxygen react to form highly toxic oxygen-derived free radical species. In this review we focus on the use of yeast cells, as unicellular eukaryotic model systems, to c onduct studies aimed at understanding fundamental mechanisms for the s ensation and protective responses to toxic metals and oxygen-derived r adicals via the activation of yeast metallothionein gene expression. ( C) 1997 Academic Press.