Molecular cloning of cDNA for rat brain metallothionein-II and regulation of its gene expression.
A rat brain metallothionein-II (MT-II) complementary DNA (cDNA) clone was isolated from a cDNA plasmid library, which was prepared from non-treated rat brain mRNA, by a colony screening procedure using 32P-labeled synthetic oligonucleotide probes. It is deduced that the clone encodes for a protein of 61 amino acids comprising 20 cysteines, which is highly homologous to MT-IIs in other species. Northern blot analysis demonstrated major mRNA species in the brain, liver and kidneys (approximately 350 b in size), which is induced in response to dexamethasone, zinc, cadmium and mercury but not to methyl mercury. These findings confirm that MT-II genes are expressed and regulated both by steroid and heavy metals in the brain as well as in peripheral organs.
Department of Public Health, Kobe University School of Medicine, Japan.
K
K
Saijoh
T
T
Kuno
H
H
Shuntoh
C
C
Tanaka
K
K
Sumino
D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D015152:Blotting, Northern; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism*; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D004247:DNA / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D008668:Metallothionein / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics*; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010957:Plasmids; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains
D004247:DNA; D008668:Metallothionein