Targeted disruption of metallothionein I and II genes increases sensitivity to cadmium.

BA Masters, EJ Kelly, CJ Quaife… - Proceedings of the …, 1994 - National Acad Sciences
BA Masters, EJ Kelly, CJ Quaife, RL Brinster, RD Palmiter
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 1994National Acad Sciences
We inactivated the mouse metallothionein (MT)-I and MT-II genes in embryonic stem cells
and generated mice homozygous for these mutant alleles. These mice were viable and
reproduced normally when reared under normal laboratory conditions. They were, however,
more susceptible to hepatic poisoning by cadmium. This proves that these widely expressed
MTs are not essential for development but that they do protect against cadmium toxicity.
These mice provide a means for testing other proposed functions of MT in vivo.
We inactivated the mouse metallothionein (MT)-I and MT-II genes in embryonic stem cells and generated mice homozygous for these mutant alleles. These mice were viable and reproduced normally when reared under normal laboratory conditions. They were, however, more susceptible to hepatic poisoning by cadmium. This proves that these widely expressed MTs are not essential for development but that they do protect against cadmium toxicity. These mice provide a means for testing other proposed functions of MT in vivo.
National Acad Sciences