Abstract
We have previously identified Akr1 as one factor in the reduction of methylmercury toxicity in yeast, and reported that Akr1’s palmitoyl transferase activity is necessary for reducing methylmercury toxicity. Palmitoylation transferases are highly conserved from yeast to humans. As such, we prepared SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cells capable of overexpressing HIP14, a human homolog of Akr1, and investigated the cell’s sensitivity to methylmercury. Our results showed that, compared with the control, the cells were resistant to methylmercury. Thus, we believe the palmitoyl transferase activity of HIP14 in humans can play an important role in the reduction of methylmercury toxicity.
