Induction and Regulation of MT Gene Expression

MT gene expression is largely regulated at the transcriptional level. Enhanced MT expression may also be attributed to MT gene amplification. However, the specific mechanism by which MT gene expression is regulated in vivo in response to metal exposure is as yet unclear. In addition to metals, a number of other stimuli are known to induce MT, namely glucocorticoids, cytokines, oxidative stress, and a variety of chemicals. 

MTF-1 gene suffer embryonic lethality as a result of liver failure, while mice lacking both alleles for the MT gene develop normally despite an increase in cadmium sensitivity. This indicates that MTF-1 not only is involved in MT gene transcription, but also has been shown to be involved in regulating other genes that are crucial to embryonic development. 

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