Characterization of metallothionein-like protein in rat brain.
A metallothionein-like protein has been identified recently in the rat brain which resembles in some but not all aspects a hepatic metallothionein. The synthesis of this protein is stimulated following the administration of zinc and copper but not cadmium. The zinc-stimulated protein incorporates 35S cysteine 24-fold higher than the native, unstimulated protein; is blocked by actinomycin D; produces two isoforms by ion exchange chromatography on DEAE Sephadex A 25 columns; and, by high performance liquid chromatography, depicts a similar but not identical profile to zinc-stimulated hepatic metallothionein. Preliminary studies have shown that the metallothionein-like protein isoform I possesses a Mr of 6200 and consists of 60 residues with 12 cysteine and no histidine, arginine, leucine, tyrosine, or phenylalanine. Since the synthesis of this protein is reduced in the brains of zinc-deficient rats, it is postulated that the free pool of zinc may serve as one of the factors that regulates the synthesis of this protein.
D000596:Amino Acids / Q000032:analysis; D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D001923:Brain Chemistry; D002104:Cadmium / Q000494:pharmacology; D002850:Chromatography, Gel; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D003300:Copper / Q000494:pharmacology; D008099:Liver / Q000032:analysis; D008668:Metallothionein / Q000032:analysis* / Q000378:metabolism; D008970:Molecular Weight; D051381:Rats; D013431:Sulfates / Q000494:pharmacology; D015032:Zinc / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology; D019287:Zinc Sulfate
D000596:Amino Acids; D013431:Sulfates; D002104:Cadmium; D019287:Zinc Sulfate; D003300:Copper; D008668:Metallothionein; D015032:Zinc