MT1A
MT1A (metallothionein 1A, also known as MT1 and MT1S) is a low-molecular-weight, cysteine-rich protein of the type 1 metallothionein family. It binds divalent heavy metal ions and contributes to cellular metal homeostasis, heavy metal detoxification and protection against oxidative stress. Browse Assay Genie's current range of MT1A research reagents below, or read on for the biology behind the target.
MT1A is a member of the metallothionein family. Proteins in this family are low in molecular weight, rich in cysteine, lack aromatic residues and bind divalent heavy metal ions. The conserved cysteine residues co-ordinate the bound metal ions through mercaptide linkages, which is the basis of the high heavy metal binding capacity of these proteins.
Through this metal binding, metallothioneins act as anti-oxidants, protect against hydroxyl free radicals, take part in the homeostatic control of metal within the cell and play a role in the detoxification of heavy metals. The MT1A protein belongs to the metallothionein superfamily and, within it, to the type 1 family. Its expression is transcriptionally regulated by both heavy metals and glucocorticoids, linking metal exposure and hormone signalling to the control of this protein.
The MT1A gene is part of the HGNC metallothioneins gene group. It has also been listed under the symbols MT1 and MT1S, and the previous gene name was metallothionein 1S. Functional insight into the family comes in part from mouse genetics: disruption of two metallothionein genes in mouse resulted in defects in protection against heavy metals, oxidative stress, immune reactions and carcinogens, and the animals also displayed obesity. These findings place metallothioneins at the interface of metal handling, redox defence and wider physiology, which is why the MT1A gene and its relatives are studied across toxicology, cell stress and metal biology.
MT1A and other metallothioneins take part in the homeostatic control of metal within the cell, making them useful markers for studying how cells handle metal ions.
Cysteine-rich metallothioneins bind divalent heavy metal ions and play a role in detoxification, so MT1A is relevant to research on metal exposure and cellular protection.
Metallothioneins act as anti-oxidants and protect against hydroxyl free radicals, placing MT1A within studies of redox balance and cellular stress responses.
Metallothionein expression is transcriptionally regulated by both heavy metals and glucocorticoids, offering a model for studying hormone and metal-responsive transcription.
MT1A is a cysteine-rich metallothionein that binds divalent heavy metal ions through mercaptide linkages. Metallothioneins act as anti-oxidants, protect against hydroxyl free radicals, contribute to metal homeostasis in the cell and play a role in the detoxification of heavy metals.
The HGNC-approved name is metallothionein 1A, and UniProt lists the protein as Metallothionein-1A. Aliases and previous symbols include MT1 and MT1S, and the previous gene name was metallothionein 1S. These names may appear in older literature and database records.
According to the NCBI Gene summary, disruption of two metallothionein genes in mouse caused defects in protection against heavy metals, oxidative stress, immune reactions and carcinogens, and the mice displayed obesity. Check the datasheet of any product for its validated reactivity.
Other metallothionein family members and metal-responsive targets with products at Assay Genie.
Gene and protein annotations from HGNC, NCBI Gene and UniProt P04731; product specifications from Assay Genie datasheets.