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Related Concept Videos

Redox Reactions01:27

Redox Reactions

Redox reactions are vital biochemical processes that underpin energy metabolism in cells. These reactions involve the transfer of electrons between molecules, occurring in tandem as oxidation and reduction. Oxidation refers to the loss of electrons, while reduction denotes their gain. This coupling ensures the seamless flow of electrons through metabolic pathways. For example, in bacterial metabolism, glucose undergoes oxidation to carbon dioxide, while oxygen is simultaneously reduced to...
Redox Reactions01:24

Redox Reactions

Oxidation-reduction or redox reactions involve the transfer of electrons from one molecule or atom to another. When an atom gains an electron, another atom must lose an electron, meaning oxidation and reduction must occur together. Since the redox occurs in pairs, the atom that gets oxidized is also called the reducing agent or reductant, and the atom that is reduced is also called the oxidizing agent or oxidant. A straightforward way to remember the definitions of oxidation and reduction is...
Microbes and Other Elemental Cycles01:24

Microbes and Other Elemental Cycles

Microbial activity plays a pivotal role in the biogeochemical cycling of iron and manganese, especially at the redox gradients characteristic of stratified aquatic environments. These cycles are driven by microbial transformations between oxidized and reduced forms of the metals, allowing organisms to exploit them for metabolic energy and structural purposes.Iron Cycling Across Redox GradientsIn neutral, oxygen-rich surface waters, iron is predominantly found in its oxidized, insoluble ferric...
Sulfur Assimilation01:20

Sulfur Assimilation

Sulfur is an essential element in biological systems, contributing to synthesizing key biomolecules, including amino acids such as cysteine and methionine, and cofactors such as coenzyme A and biotin. Microorganisms primarily assimilate sulfur as sulfate (SO₄²⁻) from the environment, which must undergo a series of biochemical transformations before it can be incorporated into cellular components. As sulfate is highly oxidized, it must undergo assimilatory sulfate reduction to become...
Electron Transport Chain: Complex III and IV01:43

Electron Transport Chain: Complex III and IV

During the electron transport chain, electrons from NADH and FADH2 are first transferred to complexes I and II, respectively. These two complexes then transfer the electrons to ubiquinol, which carries them further to complex III. Complex III passes the electrons across the intermembrane space to Cyt c, which carries them further to complex IV. Complex IV donates electrons to oxygen and reduces it to water. As electrons pass through complexes I, III, and IV, the energy released aids the pumping...
Electron Transport Chain: Complex I and II01:46

Electron Transport Chain: Complex I and II

The mitochondrial electron transport chain (ETC) is the main energy generation system in the eukaryotic cells. However, mitochondria also produce cytotoxic reactive oxygen species (ROS) due to the large electron flow during oxidative phosphorylation. While Complex I is one of the primary sources of superoxide radicals, ROS production by Complex II is uncommon and may only be observed in cancer cells with mutated complexes.
ROS generation is regulated and maintained at moderate levels necessary...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 19, 2026

Ion Mobility-Mass Spectrometry Techniques for Determining the Structure and Mechanisms of Metal Ion Recognition and Redox Activity of Metal Binding Oligopeptides
11:04

Ion Mobility-Mass Spectrometry Techniques for Determining the Structure and Mechanisms of Metal Ion Recognition and Redox Activity of Metal Binding Oligopeptides

Published on: September 7, 2019

Metallothionein redox cycle and function.

Y James Kang1

  • 1Department of Medicine, University of Louisville School of Medicine, 511 S. Floyd Street, MDR 530, Louisville, KY 40202, USA. yjkang01@louisville.edu

Experimental Biology and Medicine (Maywood, N.J.)
|October 5, 2006
PubMed
Summary

Metallothionein (MT) acts as a zinc reservoir, releasing zinc upon cellular oxidation. This redox-regulated zinc mobilization is key to metallothionein

Area of Science:

  • Biochemistry
  • Molecular Biology
  • Cellular Physiology

Background:

  • Metallothionein (MT) is a protein with poorly understood biological functions.
  • MT is known to bind essential and toxic metals and protect against oxidative stress.
  • Zinc-metallothionein is the predominant form under physiological conditions.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To elucidate the mechanistic insights into the biological functions of metallothionein.
  • To explore the role of redox regulation in metallothionein's interaction with zinc.
  • To understand how MT contributes to metal homeostasis and oxidative stress protection.

Main Methods:

  • The study focuses on the redox regulation of zinc binding and release from MT.
  • Investigates the formation of MT-disulfide through oxidation of thiolate clusters.

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Profiling Thiol Redox Proteome Using Isotope Tagging Mass Spectrometry
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Last Updated: Jul 19, 2026

Ion Mobility-Mass Spectrometry Techniques for Determining the Structure and Mechanisms of Metal Ion Recognition and Redox Activity of Metal Binding Oligopeptides
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  • Examines the reduction of MT-disulfide by glutathione with a selenium catalyst.

    • Main Results:

    • Oxidation triggers zinc release from MT, forming MT-disulfide.
    • MT-disulfide can be reduced back to zinc-binding MT by glutathione and selenium.
    • This redox cycling demonstrates MT's capacity to act as a dynamic zinc reservoir.

    Conclusions:

    • Redox regulation of zinc mobilization is a critical mechanism for MT function in zinc homeostasis.
    • The MT redox cycle provides a new perspective on MT's role in essential metal balance, toxic metal detoxification, and oxidative stress defense.