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Homo‐phytochelatins are heavy metal‐binding peptides of homo‐glutathione containing Fabales
Author(s) -
Grill E.,
Gekeler W.,
Winnacker E.-L.,
Zenk H.H.
Publication year - 1986
Publication title -
febs letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.593
H-Index - 257
eISSN - 1873-3468
pISSN - 0014-5793
DOI - 10.1016/0014-5793(86)80863-8
Subject(s) - glutathione , chemistry , metal , chelation , phytochelatin , biochemistry , stereochemistry , enzyme , organic chemistry
Exposure of several species of the order Fabales to Cd 2+ results in the formation of metal chelating peptides of the general structure (γ‐Glu‐Cys) n ‐β‐Ala ( n = 2–7). They are assumed to be formed from homo‐glutathione and are termed homo‐phytochelatins, as they are homologous to the recently discovered phytochelatins. These peptides are induced by a number of metals such as Cd 2+ , Zn 2+ , Hg 2+ , Pb 2+ , AsO 4 − and others. They are assumed to detoxify poisonous heavy metals and to be involved in metal homeostasis.