title: Identification of metaflothionein in Pleurodeles waltl.
abstract: The characterization of metallothionein in the Urodele amphibian species Pleurodeles waltl was achieved. A simple and rapid method for identification of metallothionein, based on its strong affinity for cadmium (109Cd), was used. We were able to show that metallothionein is constitutively synthesized in liver, ovary and brain. The property of metallothionein to strongly bind essential (Zn, Cu) as well as toxic (Cd, Hg) metals is consistent with a dual role in cellular metabolism, ie. homeostatis and detoxification of heavy metal ions.
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire de Biologie et Physiologie de la Reproduction et du Développement, Faculté des Sciences I, Maarif, Casablanca, Morocco.
authors.forename: Khadija
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Mounaji
authors.forename: Nour-Eddine
authors.initials: NE
authors.lastname: Erraiss
authors.forename: Maurice
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wegnez
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001923:Brain Chemistry; D002850:Chromatography, Gel; D004591:Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel; D005260:Female; D008099:Liver / Q000737:chemistry; D008297:Male; D008668:Metallothionein / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D009018:Morocco; D010053:Ovary / Q000737:chemistry; D010999:Pleurodeles
chemical_list: D008668:Metallothionein