NEW FINDINGS ON AN IMPORTANT FAMILY OF GENES

A team of researchers that includes Nina Séren and Miguel Carretero (CIBIO-InBIO), has recently made a significant contribution to our understanding about the evolution of an important family of genes involved in metal detoxification and storage mechanisms (the metallothionein – MT - gene superfamily). While this gene encoding for metal-binding proteins have mostly been studied in mammals, in this study, the researchers found a wide variety of them in reptiles, which were thought to have only one MT type.

Their findings provide relevant insights to advance the current knowledge on heavy metal metabolism and tolerances amongst vertebrates.

This study has made the cover of April’s issue of Journal of Molecular Evolution!

Article’s full reference: Serén N, Glaberman S, Carretero MA, Chiari Y (2014) Molecular Evolution and Functional Divergence of the Metallothionein Gene Family in Vertebrates. Journal of Molecular Evolution, 78(3-4):217-233. DOI: 10.1007/s00239-014-9612-5