P HYTOCHELATINS AND M ETALLOTHIONEINS : Roles in Heavy Metal Detoxification and Homeostasis

▪ Abstract Among the heavy metal-binding ligands in plant cells the phytochelatins (PCs) and metallothioneins (MTs) are the best characterized. PCs and MTs are different classes of cysteine-rich, heavy metal-binding protein molecules. PCs are enzymatically synthesized peptides, whereas MTs are ge…