metallothionein

M3E1T1A1L1L1O1T1H4I1O1N1E1I1N1

noun

Any of a family of cysteine-rich proteins that bond to heavy metals

Similar
MT
OriginEnglish thionein ← Ancient Greek μέτᾰλλον (métăllon) →
UncommonScrabble 20
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Meanings

nounmetallothionein (plural metallothioneins)

plural metallothioneins

  1. biochemistryAny of a family of cysteine-rich proteins that bond to heavy metals

    Synonyms: MT

Synonyms & antonyms

nounAny of a family of cysteine-rich proteins that bond to heavy metals

Similar
MT

Origin

  1. Ancient Greekμέτᾰλλον (métăllon)
  2. Englishmetallo-
  3. Englishthionein
  4. Englishmetallothionein

From metallo- + thionein.

Full word history & related roots →

Rhymes & wordplay

Anagrams

metallothionine
Cite this entry
APA

metallothionein. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/metallothionein

MLA

“metallothionein.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/metallothionein. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “metallothionein,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/metallothionein.

Source: metallothionein on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.