Role of Plant Metallothioneins in Stress Responses.

OBERTELLO M, WALL L, BOGUSZ D, FRANCHE C.

Floriculture, ornamental and plant biotechnology: advances and topical issues

Año: 2006; p. 132 - 136

Metallothioneins (MTs) are low molecular weight cystein-rich proteins with the ability to sequester heavy metals such as copper (Cu), zinc (Zn) and cadmium (Cd). They are widespread throughout the animal and plant kingdoms and are currently classified into 15 families. In mammals it has been shown that MTs have an important function in heavy metal metabolism and detoxification and in the management of various forms of cellular stress. This chapter reviews the current knowledge on the classification, regulation and induction of plant MTs, with a particular emphasis on the MT genes that are expressed in flowers. It also considers the possible biological role of this protein in relation to heavy metals and oxyradicals scavenging capacity.