The release of reactive oxygen species (ROS) has been proposed as a cause of streptozotocin (STZ)-induced -cell damage. This initiates a destructive cascade, consisting of DNA damage, excess activation of the DNA repair enzyme poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase, and depletion of cellular NAD ؉ . Metallothionein (MT) is an inducible antioxidant protein that has been shown to protect DNA from chemical damage in several cell types. Therefore, we examined whether overexpression of MT could protect -cell DNA and thereby prevent STZinduced diabetes. Two lines of transgenic mice were produced with up to a 30-fold elevation in -cell MT. Cultured islets from control mice and MT transgenic mice were exposed to STZ. MT was found to decrease STZ-induced islet disruption, DNA breakage, and depletion of NAD ؉ . To assess in vivo protection, transgenic and control mice were injected with STZ. Transgenic mice had significantly reduced hyperglycemia. Ultrastructural examination of islets from STZ-treated mice showed that MT prevented degranulation and cell death. These results demonstrate that MT can reduce diabetes and confirm the DNA damage mechanism of STZ-induced -cell death. Diabetes 50:2040 -2046, 2001 P ancreatic -cells (1) are extremely vulnerable to damage caused by reactive oxygen species (ROS). A striking example of -cell vulnerability is the severe damage done by streptozotocin (STZ). This natural toxin has several destructive actions, including DNA methylation (2), protein modification (3), and ROS generation (4). STZ enters the cytoplasm via GLUT2, which is the -cell's glucose transporter (5). The presence of this transporter may account for part of the specific vulnerability of the -cell. However, GLUT2 is also present in the liver and kidney, tissues that are relatively resistant to STZ damage. The much greater sensitivity of the -cell is probably due to its very low level of antioxidant enzyme expression and activity (6 -8), which leaves it unable to inactivate ROS. It has been demonstrated in vivo that overexpression of the antiapoptotic, antioxidant protein thioredoxin (9), as well as the antioxidant protein catalase (10), protects the -cell from STZ. However, it is not possible to markedly induce these proteins in vivo. Therefore, we are exploring the potential of another antioxidant protein that is highly inducible, metallothionein (MT).MTs are a family of low-molecular weight cysteine-rich proteins that bind heavy metals with high affinity. MT appears to play important roles in zinc homeostasis and ROS protection. Both functions are due to the presence of abundant cysteine residues. MT protects against many agents known to act through ROS, including hydrogen peroxide, radiation, glutathione depletors, adriamycin, and xanthine oxidase (11,12). MT is distinct among ROS scavengers in the breadth of its protection, in that it scavenges nitric oxide radicals (13), superoxide radicals (14), and hydroxyl radicals (15), which are the most destructive ROS species (11). MT scavenging of hydroxyl radicals is especi...