Our research interest focuses on the organization and regulation of stress-inducible genes and their gene products. More specifically, studies involve a family of proteins named metallothionein, which bind transition metals avidly. Metallothionein-encoding genes are inducible by metals and other stress conditions. This family of proteins may have a role in metal homeostasis and detoxification. The approaches used in our studies thus encompass the use of recombinant DNA technology, cloning and site-directed mutagenesis techniques, protein engineering methodology, molecular simulation and computational biology.

Major recent findings include the isolation and characterization of metallothionein genes from rice, Arabidopsis, and porcine. Other accomplishments are centered around the elucidation of metal binding preference by sequence motifs through mutagenesis using transgenic systems and in silico. Current efforts involve ecogenomics using zebrafish as a model system.

(Dr. Huang accepts only postdoctoral fellows, and is available as a consulting faculty for the training program.)

Biochemistry and molecular biology, stress-inducible genes and their gene products. More specifically, studies involve a family of proteins named metallothionein

Chen WM, Hsieh HM, and Huang PC (1997) Type 2 rice metallothionein-like gene has two introns. DNA 8:223-229.

Huang MC, Pan PK, Zheng ZF, Chen NC, Peng JY and Huang PC (1998) Multiple isoforms of metallothionein are expressed in the porcine liver. Gene 211: 49-55.

Chang CC and Huang PC (1998) Cysteine contributions to metal binding preference for Zn/Cd in the beta-domain of metallothionein. Protein Engineering 11: 41-46.

Pan PKY, Zheng ZF, Lyu PC and Huang PC (1999) Why reversing the sequence of the alpha-domain of human metallothionein-2 does not change its metal-binding and folding characteristics. Eur. J. Biochemistry 266:1-8.