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. 1997 Nov 15;328(Pt 1):63–67. doi: 10.1042/bj3280063

Metallothionein accretion in human hepatic cells is linked to cellular proliferation.

R Studer 1, C P Vogt 1, M Cavigelli 1, P E Hunziker 1, J H Kägi 1
PMCID: PMC1218887  PMID: 9359834

Abstract

The basal amounts of metallothionein (MT) and its rates of biosynthesis were compared in resting and proliferating Chang liver (CCl-13) cells. In resting cells the total amounts of the detectable isoforms MT-2 and MT-1e were approx. 1.6x10(6) and 4x10(5) molecules per cell respectively. In exponentially growing cultures the cellular contents of both isoforms increased co-ordinately approx. 4-fold and decreased again to the initial values within 48 h after entering density-mediated growth arrest. As documented for MT-2 its transient accretion was attributable to a 10-fold rise in the rate of biosynthesis of this protein during the growth phase. Measurements of the relative amounts of MT-2 mRNA indicated the occurrence of a more than 50% increase within the first 12 h after subculturing of the cells, followed by a return to basal levels thereafter. These results denote a direct link between the programming of MT synthesis and proliferation and thus attest to a central housekeeping function of the MTs.

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Selected References

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