Solubility of copper and zinc containing proteins before and after 2-mercaptoethanol treatment of liver samples from normal and from chronically copper poisoned sheep.
The distribution between cytosol and pellet of Cu- and Zn-containing proteins was studied in livers from normal sheep and sheep with chronic copper poisoning (CCP). It was found that the relative amount of soluble Cu- and Zn-containing proteins was lower in liver homogenates from CCP sheep than in homogenates from normal sheep. Treatment of homogenate from the livers of 2-mercaptoethanol (ME) increased the solubility of Cu- and Zn-containing proteins, especially in CCP sheep. Oxidation of the liver homogenates from normal sheep with air oxygen gave a decrease in the relative amount of soluble CU-containing proteins and an increase in Zn-containing proteins present in the cytosol. It is proposed that oxidation in vivo of Cu and/or the metal-binding protein causes the observed decrease in soluble CU- and Zn-containing proteins seen in CCP sheep.
D000818:Animals; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003300:Copper / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000506:poisoning; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D008623:Mercaptoethanol / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008667:Metalloproteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D012756:Sheep / Q000378:metabolism*; D012757:Sheep Diseases / Q000378:metabolism; D012995:Solubility; D015032:Zinc / Q000378:metabolism*
D008667:Metalloproteins; D008623:Mercaptoethanol; D003300:Copper; D015032:Zinc