Talk:Metallothionein

The connection of autism and thiomersal is highly doubtfull. Should be mentioned only with caution. (the author of the study faces the threat of losing his approbation due to fraud in germany)

Copper

Is there any connection between copper supplementation and MT levels? Does cu deficiency alters the production of MT in any way?Tradingbr 15:15, 7 November 2006 (UTC)[reply]

I'm not agree at all with the expression "metabolise metals". Metals are not metabolised, are captured, vehicularised or included, but not metabolised.

Maybe a reference to the finding of MTs by Dr. Vallee should be included.

The expression metabolism of heavy metals is correct with regard to: Hg,which is methylised, As, which is oxydized, Cr, which is first oxydized to Cr6+ in order to pass the membranes of lymphocytes and erythrocytes, and then reduced to Cr3+ in order to get excreated via kidney. There are also many other ox-red and methylation reactions in order to get rid of metals.

The reference for Dr. Vallee: Vallee, B.L. (1979), Experientia, Supp. 34, p.19 (taken as cross reference from: Methods in Enzymology, Vol 205, page 4, an article edited by Vallee, Bert, L. with the headline: Introduction to Metallothionein).

I suggest to use a second line in order to show the primary structure of the MT in the table, because it is difficult to dicern between the name of the "animal" and the beginning of the first amino acid. Where does the letter of the structure start at family 2. (mulluscan)?. I assume that the M (methionine) might be the first candidate of the row of letters, but I don´t know. Please kindly also provide the full reference for the table, or of the primary structure. The primary structure is very important for the function.