Re: Walsh/Pfeiffer study on autism -genetics

[Guest guest]

Joe,

Just a thought on Metallothionein function that you mention, it may be that

what you are describing is mercury-metallothionein dominance over say

zinc-metallothionein, but I did get the impression that you were suggesting

that mercury stops metallothionein production, I read some months back that

mercury increases MT tRNA upon it's exposure to astrocytes (Glial cells), I'm

still not clear on whether it inhibits the thiols from participating in MT

synthesis (which would lead to increased MT-tRNA expression in normal

individuals?) or if it is able to mimic zinc which also induces MT-tRNA.

I'm not trying to knock what you have said, an expanded definition of

" genetic " makes a lot of sense and I do agree with you on everything else,

just wondered if your angle was that Hg could be messing with MT gene, it

seems a bit odd that if MT is a protective mechanism against Hg toxicity that

Hg should be able to cripple it so easily. I did get the impression that MT

does not distinguish between Hg or Zn, it is a vehicle for both and seems to

be able to distribute both, I did get this from sort of reading between the

lines, it does seem that Hg has the edge on Zn in terms of affinity for Zn

binding sites. Is this contra-what-you-think?

Jon.