A metallothionein containing a zinc finger within a four-metal cluster protects a bacterium from zinc toxicity.
Blindauer, C.A., Harrison, M.D., Parkinson, J.A., Robinson, A.K., Cavet, J.S., Robinson, N.J., Sadler, P.J.(2001) Proc.Natl.Acad.Sci.USA 98: 9593-9598
- PubMed: 11493688 
- DOI: 10.1073/pnas.171120098
- PubMed Abstract: 
Zinc is essential for many cellular processes, including DNA synthesis, transcription, and translation, but excess can be toxic. A zinc-induced gene, smtA, is required for normal zinc-tolerance in the cyanobacterium Synechococcus PCC 7942. Here we re ...