Metallothionein proteins are highly conserved
low-molecular-weight cysteine-rich proteins that are induced by and
bind to heavy metal ions and have no enzymatic activity. They may
play a central role in the regulation of cell growth and
differentiation and are involved in spermatogenesis. This gene
encodes a metallothionein-like protein which has been shown to be
expressed differentially in mouse testis and ovary. Two transcript
variants encoding different isoforms have been found for this gene.
