Abstract
Both zinc and copper are essential minerals that are required for various cellular functions. Although these metals are essential, they can be toxic at excess amounts, especially in certain genetic disorders. Zinc and copper homeostasis results from a coordinated regulation by different proteins involved in uptake, excretion and intracellular storage/trafficking of these metals. Apart from zinc transporters (ZnT) families and Cu-ATPase, metallothionein is an important storage protein for zinc and copper. Metallothioneins are intracellular polypeptides with a remarkable ability to bind metallic ions. These proteins bind both essential metals indispensable for the organism and also toxic metals (e.g. cadmium or lead). Metallothioneins play a critical role to maintain zinc and copper homeostasis. In this review, we summarize the toxicity of zinc and copper and the potential treatment for zinc or copper toxicity by zinc- or copper-specific chelators as well as strategy to upregulate metallothionein.
Keywords: zinc, copper, metallothionein, zinc chelator, copper chelator, oxidative damage
Current Medicinal Chemistry
Title: Essentiality, Toxicology and Chelation Therapy of Zinc and Copper
Volume: 12 Issue: 23
Author(s): Lu Cai, Xiao-Kun Li, Ye Song and M. G Cherian
Affiliation:
Keywords: zinc, copper, metallothionein, zinc chelator, copper chelator, oxidative damage
Abstract: Both zinc and copper are essential minerals that are required for various cellular functions. Although these metals are essential, they can be toxic at excess amounts, especially in certain genetic disorders. Zinc and copper homeostasis results from a coordinated regulation by different proteins involved in uptake, excretion and intracellular storage/trafficking of these metals. Apart from zinc transporters (ZnT) families and Cu-ATPase, metallothionein is an important storage protein for zinc and copper. Metallothioneins are intracellular polypeptides with a remarkable ability to bind metallic ions. These proteins bind both essential metals indispensable for the organism and also toxic metals (e.g. cadmium or lead). Metallothioneins play a critical role to maintain zinc and copper homeostasis. In this review, we summarize the toxicity of zinc and copper and the potential treatment for zinc or copper toxicity by zinc- or copper-specific chelators as well as strategy to upregulate metallothionein.
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Cite this article as:
Cai Lu, Li Xiao-Kun, Song Ye and Cherian G M., Essentiality, Toxicology and Chelation Therapy of Zinc and Copper, Current Medicinal Chemistry 2005; 12 (23) . https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/092986705774462950
DOI https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/092986705774462950 |
Print ISSN 0929-8673 |
Publisher Name Bentham Science Publisher |
Online ISSN 1875-533X |
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