Essential Metals as Regulators of Metabolism

UASs do not regulate the heme oxygenase gene in rats. Rather, the rat HO gene has two copies of the MT metal responsive element (see below) and heavy metal regulation of transcription may be analogous to that seen for MT (Miller et al. 1985). 

Copper(II) affects gene expression in a wide variety of organisms including yeast, mammals, and bacteria. The best-described copper-regulated genes encode metallothioneins (MTs) the biochemistry and biology of this protein have been extensively reviewed (Chap. 6, this volume Hamer 1986 Andrews 1990). Its role as a model and potential mediator of transcription are discussed here. 

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