Basic Information

Symbol
MT2A
RNA class
mRNA
Alias
Metallothionein 2A MT2 Metallothionein-II Metallothionein-2 MT-II MT-2 Metallothionein-2A CES1
Location (GRCh38)
16:56608584-56609497
UCSC Genome Browser Search in Marker Scope
Forensic tag(s)
Other applications
External database
HGNC NCBI Ensembl OMIM UniProt GTEx

MANE select

Transcript ID
NM_005953.5
Sequence length
401.0 nt
GC content
0.5561

Secondary Structure

Generated by RNAfold
Minimum free energy (MFE) structure:
Secondary structure that contributes a minimum of free energy.
Ensemble properties:
Thermodynamic properties of the Boltzmann ensemble.
Minimum free energy
-113.50 kcal/mol
Thermodynamic ensemble
Free energy: -123.14 kcal/mol
Frequency: 0.0000
Diversity: 104.31
MFE Structure Visualization
Structure Prediction
MFE Structure Prediction
.............((((((..(((.....(((((((...((((((((.(..(((.(((.....(((((.((..(((...)))(((..(((.((((((((((((.(..........)))))))).((((((.(((((.((.((((....))))))...(((.((...((....)))).))).(((((..((((............)))))))))))))).)))..)))))))).)))..))))))))))..))).)))..).))))))))....))...............)))))...((((......))))....(((((..((....))..))))).(((((((..((((.(.........).))))..)))))))...........)))..)))))).
Thermodynamic Ensemble Prediction
.............((((((..(((.....(((((,{....(((((((((....,.{(((({{{(((((.((..,((,.,,,....|,}}}||||,,(((((((.(..........))))))))...{||,..((((.,({((((....))))})}.})}}.....}}}}}.{((...(((.(((({,.((((........,,..))))))))).)))...))),)))))))))))))).||||{{,..}})))},|,..,((((({,,{,...)})))))).,,,...}.}))))...((((......))))....{((((..({....))..))))}.(((((((..((((,,.........),))))..)))))))...........)))..)))))).

Transcripts

ID Sequence Length GC content
NM_005953.5 NCBI
ACCACGCCUCCUCCAAGUCCCAGCGAACCCGCGUGCAACCUGUCCCGAC… 401 nt 0.5561
Summary

This gene is a member of the metallothionein family of genes. Proteins encoded by this gene family are low in molecular weight, are cysteine-rich, lack aromatic residues, and bind divalent heavy metal ions, altering the intracellular concentration of heavy metals in the cell. These proteins act as anti-oxidants, protect against hydroxyl free radicals, are important in homeostatic control of metal in the cell, and play a role in detoxification of heavy metals. The encoded protein interacts with the protein encoded by the homeobox containing 1 gene in some cell types, controlling intracellular zinc levels, affecting apoptotic and autophagy pathways. Some polymorphisms in this gene are associated with an increased risk of cancer. [provided by RefSeq, Sep 2017]

Forensic Context

A study in human HT-29 colorectal adenocarcinoma cells demonstrated that the MT2A was induced 22.88-fold by arsenic trioxide exposure, with dose-dependent upregulation confirmed by qRT-PCR [Kazuta et al. DOI:10.1016/J.Legalmed.2026.102774]. In a separate meta-analysis of human lung tissue from COPD patients, the MT2A was identified as a top up-regulated differentially expressed gene in a specific monocyte subcluster, encoding a protein involved in metal ion detoxification and homeostasis [Lee et al. DOI:10.1016/j.compbiomed.2023.107685]. A study in mice demonstrated that the MT2A was commonly up-regulated following Kupffer cell-specific and endothelial cell-specific in vivo exposures to α-particles, as identified through oligonucleotide microarray analysis and validated by real-time PCR [Roudkenar et al. DOI:10.1269/jrr.07078]. This up-regulation was part of a broader inflammatory state and characteristic gene expression profile induced by radiation exposure in liver tissue.