Cousins R J
Center for Nutritional Sciences and Food Science, University of Florida, Gainesville 32611.
Annu Rev Nutr. 1994;14:449-69. doi: 10.1146/annurev.nu.14.070194.002313.
The transcriptional regulation of genes by metals is a biological function separate from structural and catalytic roles for metals in gene expression. Each of these functions relies on metals that enter cells from metabolic compartments derived from and influenced by the dietary metal supply. The intracellular metal pools provide an available source for binding to metalloregulatory proteins for transcriptional regulation. These proteins bind MRE sequences found in the promoters of some genes. The distribution of MRE sequences and of metalloregulatory proteins extends from microbial to mammalian systems. The bulk of the data on metal regulation of mammalian gene expression is from the perspective of positive transcriptional regulation. Nevertheless, negative regulation by metals could potentially occur. Transcriptional regulation of genes by nutritionally important metals must be viewed in the context of the other roles of metals in cellular structure and function. Investigators are rapidly delineating the involvement of metals in molecular biology in general and in gene expression in particular.
金属对基因的转录调控是一种与金属在基因表达中的结构和催化作用不同的生物学功能。这些功能中的每一种都依赖于从受膳食金属供应影响的代谢区室进入细胞的金属。细胞内金属池为与金属调节蛋白结合以进行转录调控提供了一个可用来源。这些蛋白质结合在某些基因启动子中发现的金属反应元件（MRE）序列。MRE序列和金属调节蛋白的分布从微生物系统延伸到哺乳动物系统。关于哺乳动物基因表达的金属调节的大部分数据是从正转录调控的角度获得的。然而，金属的负调控也有可能发生。必须从金属在细胞结构和功能中的其他作用的背景下来看待营养重要金属对基因的转录调控。研究人员正在迅速描绘金属在一般分子生物学，特别是基因表达中的作用。
