The synthesis of several metal-binding proteins Že.g. ceruloplasmin and ferritin. is also induced during early infection ŽBeisel, 1998.. However, it is not certain if this increased synthesis also in- volves the low molecular-weight metal-binding protein metallothionein ŽMT.. MT, important for zinc ŽZn. and copper ŽCu. homeostasis ŽWaalkes and Goering, 1990., is found in various tissues, including the liver, pancreas and kidney. In addi- tion, MT binds the toxic heavy metal cadmium