Domain specificity in metal binding to metallothionein. A circular dichroism and magnetic circular dichroism study of cadmium and zinc binding at temperature extremes

Rabbit liver Zn metallothionein-(MT) will bind cadmium readily between -26 degrees C and 70 degrees C. The binding reaction was monitored by recording the circular dichroism and magnetic circular dichroism spectra, in the region of the RS(-)----Cd2+ charge transfer transition at 250 nm, at intervals as aliquots of cadmium were added. For all temperatures, these data can be analyzed in terms of a distributed mechanism for cadmium binding when Zn-MT is used, and a domain-specific mechanism when apo-MT is used. The CD spectrum measured at -26 degrees C for Cd,Zn-MT, which was made by adding excess cadmium directly to Zn7-MT at -26 degrees C, is not the same as the CD spectrum of Cd-MT prepared at room temperature from the same Zn7-MT. Measurements of the stoichiometry of the cadmium and zinc bound to MT in the presence of excess cadmium at different temperatures indicates that below 5 degrees C at least one zinc atom remains bound to the protein. The mixed metal metallothionein, Cd/Zn-MT, that always forms below 5 degrees C, is characterized by a single maximum near 250 nm in the CD spectrum, rather than the derivative-shaped CD envelope that is diagnostic of the (Cd4-S11)alpha cluster, which indicates that the zinc occupies a site in the alpha domain. Rearrangement of the bound metals to the domain-specific distribution takes place if Cd,Zn-MT, prepared at subzero temperatures, is warmed above 30 degrees C.     

Antioxidant effect of zinc and zinc-metallothionein in the acute cytotoxicity of hydrogen peroxide in Ehrlich ascites tumour cells

This study was concerned with the role of zinc (Zn) and zinc-metallothionein (Zn-MT) in oxidative stress. Hydrogen peroxide-induced oxidative injury was examined in Ehrlich ascites tumour cells isolated from control host mice, mice pretreated with 10 mg/kg ZnSO4 (i.p.) to increase cellular Zn/Zn-MT levels, and mice exposed to Zn-deficient diet to reduce the cellular Zn/Zn-MT levels. The results of the present study showed that Ehrlich cells with seven-fold differences in Zn-MT concentrations could be obtained by manipulating the Zn status of host mice and that high Zn and Zn-MT levels can make Ehrlich cells more resistant to H2O2-induced oxidative injury (cell viability, lipid peroxidation, [Ca2+]i) while cells with reduced Zn/Zn-MT levels were more susceptible to this treatment. H2O2 treatment resulted in oxidation of MT thiolate groups and loss of its metal binding capacity with translocation of Zn released from oxidized MT to other cellular sites. Preincubation of Ehrlich cells with ZnSO4 in vitro also conferred some degree of resistance to H2O2 toxicity, suggesting the inherent antioxidative property of Zn ions. These data suggested that Zn-MT can be considered as an antioxidant by virtue of its thiolate groups and its Zn ions that are released in the presence of oxidative stress.     

Hepatic zinc response via metallothionein induction after tumor transplantation

Based on previous findings that liver zinc and metallothionein (MT) levels increase after tumor transplantation, zinc metabolism in tumor-bearing mice was studied to clarify the role of zinc-MT in host defense systems. Zinc in the hepatic cytosolic MT fraction did not increase in tumor-bearing mice fed a zinc-deficient diet, suggesting that dietary zinc is necessary for apo-MT induction in the liver after tumor transplantation and is then incorporated into the apo-MT. When (65)ZnCl(2) was intravenously injected, liver (65)Zn levels in the tumor-bearing mice were higher than those in control mice for 72 h after the injection. Pancreatic and blood (65)Zn levels in tumor-bearing mice were lower than those in controls for 24 h (pancreas) and 6 h (blood) after the injection. These findings indicate that the hepatic zinc response via MT induction influences zinc metabolism in the body after tumor transplantation. Moreover, (65)Zn uptake in the liver of MT-deficient tumor-bearing mice was lower than that in control tumor-bearing mice 1 h after injection. (65)Zn uptake in the tumor and blood (65)Zn levels in the MT-deficient tumor-bearing mice were higher than those in the control tumor-bearing mice. Tumor weight increased more in MT-deficient mice than in control mice. The formation of zinc-MT in the liver of tumor-bearing mice might decrease blood zinc availability for tumors and other tissues, such as the pancreas.     

Cadmium binding to metallothioneins. Domain specificity in reactions of alpha and beta fragments, apometallothionein, and zinc metallothionein with Cd2+

The cadmium-binding properties of rabbit liver Zn7-metallothionein (MT) 2 and apo-MT, rat liver apo-alpha MT and Zn4-alpha MT, and calf liver apo-beta MT, have been studied using circular dichroism (CD) and magnetic circular dichroism (MCD) spectroscopies. Both sets of spectra recorded during the titration of Zn7-MT 2 with Cd2+ exhibit a complicated pattern that is quite unexpected. Such behavior is not found at all in sets of spectra recorded during titrations of the apo-species (apo-MT, apo-alpha MT, and apo-beta MT), and is observed to a much lesser extent in the titration of Zn-alpha MT. Comparison between the band centers of the Cd-alpha MT and Cd-beta MT indicates that the CD spectrum of Cd7-MT is dominated by intensity from transitions that originate on Cd-S chromophores in the alpha domain, with little direct contribution from the beta domain. Analysis of the spectra recorded during titrations of Zn7-MT 2 with Cd2+ suggests: (i) that Cd2+ replaces Zn2+ in Zn7-MT isomorphously; (ii) that cadmium binds in a nonspecific, "distributed" manner across both domains; (iii) that cluster formation in the alpha domain only occurs after 4 mol eq of cadmium have been added and is indicated by the presence of a cluster-sensitive, CD spectral feature; (iv) that the characteristic derivative CD spectrum of native Cd4,Zn3-MT is only obtained from "synthetic" Cd4,Zn3-MT following a treatment cycle that allows the redistribution of cadmium into the alpha domain; warming the synthetic "native," Cd4,Zn3-MT, to 65 degrees C results in cadmium being preferentially bound in the alpha domain; and (v) Zn7-MT will bind Cd2+ quite normally at up to 65 degrees C but with greater specificity for the alpha domain compared with titrations carried out at 25 degrees C. These results suggest that the initial presence of zinc in both domains is an important factor in the lack of any domain specificity during cadmium binding to Zn-MT which contrasts the domain specific manner observed for cadmium binding to apo-MT.     

Zinc(II) is required for the in vivo and in vitro folding of mouse copper metallothionein in two domains

We postulate that zinc(II) is a keystone in the structure of physiological mouse copper metallothionein 1 (Cu-MT 1). Only when Zn(II) is coordinated does the structure of the in vivo- and in vitro-conformed Cu-MT species consist of two additive domains. Therefore, the functionally active forms of the mammalian Cu-MT may rely upon a two-domain structure. The in vitro behaviour of the whole protein is deduced from the Cu titration of the apo and Zn-containing forms and compared with that of the independent fragments using CD, UV-vis, ESI-MS and ICP-AES. We propose the formation of the following Cu, Zn-MT species during Zn/Cu replacement in Zn7-MT: (Zn4)alpha(Cu4Zn1)beta-MT, (Cu3Zn2)alpha(Cu4Zn1)beta-MT and (Cu4Zn1)alpha(Cu6)beta-MT. The cooperative formation of (Cu3Zn2)alpha(Cu4Zn1)beta-MT from (Zn4)alpha(Cu4Zn1)beta-MT indicates that the preference of Cu(I) for binding to the beta domain is only partial and not absolute, as otherwise accepted. Homometallic Cu-MT species have been obtained either from the apoform of MT or from Zn7-MT after total replacement of zinc. In these species, copper distribution cannot be inferred from the sum of the independent alpha and beta fragments. The in vivo synthesis of the entire MT in Cu-supplemented media has afforded Cu7Zn3-MT [(Cu3Zn2)alpha(Cu4Zn1)beta-MT], while that of alpha MT has rendered a mixture of Cu4Zn1-alpha MT (40%), Cu5Zn1-alpha MT (20%) and Cu7-alpha MT (40%). In the case of beta MT, a mixture of Cu6-beta MT (25%) and Cu7-beta MT (75%) was recovered [1]. These species correspond to some of those conformed in vitro and confirm that Zn(II) is essential for the in vivo folding of Cu-MT in a Cu-rich environment. A final significant issue is that common procedures used to obtain mammalian Cu6-beta MT from native sources may not be adequate.     

Kinetic lability of zinc bound to metallothionein in Ehrlich cells.

Ehrlich ascites-tumour cells normally contain a large concentration of Zn-metallothionein. When cells are placed in culture media, containing or pretreated with the metal-ion-chelating resin Chelex-100, they stop growing, remain viable and lose zinc specifically from the metallothionein (MT) pool. The kinetics of loss of zinc are first-order and are very rapid, having a rate constant of greater than or equal to 0.6 h-1. MT protein labelled with 35S is biodegraded with a rate constant of 0.07-0.014 h-1 in control cells, 0.08 h-1 in cells exposed to the zinc-deficient medium and 0.12-0.18 h-1 in cells treated directly with Chelex. Over the 6 h period in which zinc is totally lost from Zn-MT there is relatively little decrease in MT-like protein as measured by cadmium-binding to the 10,000-Mr protein fraction. Other pools of zinc and 35S-labelled protein turn over more slowly. There is no loss of zinc from rat liver Zn-MT that is dialysed against Chelex to model the possible reaction of the resin with Ehrlich-cell Zn-MT. However, Chelex does compete slowly for MT-bound zinc when resin and MT are directly mixed. Analysis of the known and possible pathways of zinc metabolism in cells in relationship to these rate constants shows that biodegradation of MT protein cannot account for the rate of loss of zinc from Zn-MT.     

Metabolism of zinc-binding ligands in rat small intestine

Studies were conducted to determine the effects of zinc deficiency and excess zinc intake on the relative⁶⁵Zn-binding activities of metallothionein (MT) and low-molecular-weight zinc-binding ligand (LMW-ZBL) in vitro and in vivo. Zinc-binding ligands of small intestine from four groups, each of five rats (normal, zinc-deficient, excess zinc injected, and excess zinc given orally), were separated by column chromatography on Sephadex G-75. The ratio of⁶⁵Zn binding activities of MT to LMW-ZBL (MT/LMW-ZBL) in zinc-deficient rats was decreased both in vitro and in vivo compared to the control. When excess zinc was administered orally,⁶⁵Zn-binding activity of MT was low in vitro and substantially increased in vivo. However, when excess zinc was injected intraperitoneally,⁶⁵Zn-binding activity of MT in vitro greatly increased, but⁶⁵Zn-binding activities of both MT and LMW-ZBL were significantly reduced in vivo as compared to the control. Based onA ₂₈₀ readings of isolated MT and densities of protein bands in disc gel electrophoresis, the⁶⁵Zn-binding activity of MT in vitro appeared to be proportional to the MT content. Hence, these data indicate that oral administration of excess zinc decreases MT whereas intraperitoneal injection of excess zinc stimulates its synthesis. Zinc deficiency has little to no effect on the intestinal MT metabolism. These results suggest that MT may be important in zinc secretion but not involved in zinc absorption; while LMW-ZBL participates both in zinc absorption and secretion.     

Protective role of zinc-metallothionein (Zn-MT) in iron nitrilotriacetate (Fe-NTA)-induced renal oxidative damage

Several studies have shown the role of thiol-rich proteins especially metallothionein (MT) in the therapeutic interventions against oxidative damage. Previously, we have provided strong evidence for the involvement of ROS in iron nitrilotriacetate (Fe-NTA)-induced renal toxicity, which may have relevance to its carcinogenicity. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the role of zinc metallothionein (Zn-MT) on the protection against Fe-NTA-induced renal oxidative damage. The results demonstrate that Zn-MT pretreatment provided protection against Fe-NTA-induced mortality in mice (40% protection). Similarly, Zn-MT pretreatment also provided protection against Fe-NTA-induced lipid peroxidation (26% inhibition, P < 0.001). It is proposed that Zn-MT protects kidney tissue against the noxious effect of Fe-NTA primarily by interference with lipid peroxides. It is concluded that Zn-MT may serve as an excellent physiological antioxidant against Fe-NTA-mediated renal oxidative damage.     

Zinc, antioxidant systems and metallothionein in metal mediated-apoptosis: biochemical and cytochemical aspects

Copper, zinc and iron are essential metals for different physiological functions, even though their excess can lead to biological damage. This review provides a background of toxicity related to copper, iron and zinc excess, biological mechanisms of their homeostasis and their respective roles in the apoptotic process. The antioxidant action of metallothionein has been highlighted by summarizing the most important findings that confirm the role of zinc in cellular protection in relation to metallothionein expression and apoptotic processes. In particular, we show that a complex and efficient antioxidant system, the induction of metallothionein and the direct action of zinc have protective roles against oxidative damage and the resulting apoptosis induced by metals with redox proprieties. In addition, to emphasize the protective effects of Zn and Zn-MT in Cu and Fe-mediated oxidative stress-dependent apoptosis, some aspects of apoptotic cell death are shown. The most widely used cytochemical techniques also have been examined in order to critically evaluate the available data from a methodological point of view. The observations on the role of Zn and MT could potentially develop new applications for this metal and MT in biomedical research.     

Mitochondrial aconitase is a source of hydroxyl radical. An electron spin resonance investigation

Mitochondrial aconitase (m-aconitase) contains a [4Fe-4S](2+) cluster in its active site that catalyzes the stereospecific dehydration-rehydration of citrate to isocitrate in the Krebs cycle. It has been proposed that the [4Fe-4S](2+) aconitase is oxidized by superoxide, generating the inactive [3Fe-4S](1+) aconitase. In this reaction, the likely products are iron(II) and hydrogen peroxide. Consequently, the inactivation of m-aconitase by superoxide may increase the formation of hydroxyl radical ((*)OH) through the Fenton reaction in mitochondria. In this work, evidence for the generation of (*)OH from the reaction of m-aconitase with superoxide is provided using ESR spin trapping experiments with 5-diethoxyphosphoryl-5-methyl-1-pyrroline N-oxide and alpha-phenyl-N-tert-butylnitrone. Formation of free ( small middle dot)OH was verified with the (*)OH scavenger Me(2)SO, which forms methyl radical upon reacting with (*)OH. The addition of Me(2)SO to incubation mixtures containing m-aconitase and xanthine/xanthine oxidase yielded methyl radical, which was detected by ESR spin trapping. Methyl radical formation was further confirmed using [(13)C]Me(2)SO. Parallel low temperature ESR experiments demonstrated that the generation of the [3Fe-4S](1+) cluster increased with increasing additions of superoxide to m-aconitase. This reaction was reversible, as >90% of the initial aconitase activity was recovered upon treatment with glutathione and iron(II). This mechanism presents a scenario in which (*)OH may be continuously generated in the mitochondria.     

Displacement of zinc and copper from copper-induced metallothionein by cadmium and by mercury: in vivo and ex vivo studies

The in vitro affinity of metals for metallothionein (MT) is Zn less than Cd less than Cu less than Hg. In a previous study Cd(II) and Hg(II) displaced Zn(II) from rat hepatic Zn7-MT in vivo and ex vivo (Day et al., 1984, Chem. Biol. Interact. 50, 159-174). The ability of Cd(II) or Hg(II) to displace Zn(II) and/or Cu(II) from metallothionein in copper-preinduced rat liver (Zn, Cu-MT) was assessed. Cd(II) and Hg(II) can displace zinc from (Zn, Cu)-MT both in vivo and ex vivo. The in vitro displacement of copper from MT by Hg(II) was not confirmed in vivo and ex vivo. Cd(II) treatment did not alter copper levels in (Zn, Cu)-MT, as expected. Hg(II) treatment, however, did not decrease copper levels in MT, but rather increased them. The sum of the copper increase and mercury incorporation into MT matched the zinc decrease under in vivo conditions and actually exceeded the zinc decrease under ex vivo conditions. Short-term exposure of rat liver to exogenous metals can result in incorporation of these metals into MT by displacement of zinc from pre-existing MT. Displacement of copper from pre-existing MT by mercury, as predicted by in vitro experiments, was not confirmed under the conditions of our in vivo and ex vivo experiments. This result is explainable based on the differing affinities and/or preferences of the two metal clusters in MT.     

蛹虫草金属硫蛋白分离纯化及性质研究

研究探讨锌离子胁迫下蛹虫草Cordyceps militaris金属硫蛋白的产生及性质。蛹虫草菌丝体以15g/L Zn2+在10L发酵罐中诱导培养56h后收集,产率为每升发酵液收集12.021g菌丝体（干重）,细胞破碎取上清液通过两次凝胶柱层析,冷冻干燥得到蛹虫草金属硫蛋白纯品。利用Bradford法进行蛋白质含量测定,用银饱和分析法结合原子吸收光谱（AAS）测定MT含量,发酵终点处金属硫蛋白含量为12.876mg/g菌丝体（湿重）。用电喷雾质谱法测得金属硫蛋白的分子量为7 390Da,用Ellman’s方法和火焰原子吸收法分别测得每分子蛋白质含有14个巯基、结合5个Zn原子。氨基酸组成分析结果显示,每分子蛋白质共含57个氨基酸,其中含有13个半胱氨酸,疏水氨基酸占29.8%,且含有组氨酸。以上表明,研究中的蛹虫草金属硫蛋白与哺乳动物金属硫蛋白结构差异较大,但与酵母菌金属硫蛋白结构组成类似。     

Cloning, expression and characterization of metallothionein from the Antarctic clam Laternula elliptica

The genes for two apparent subtypes of metallothionein (MT) isoform were isolated from the Antarctic clam Laternula elliptica. Determination of the nucleotide sequence showed that the gene consists of 222 bp that code a 73-amino acid protein. The comparison between MT cDNA sequences of L. elliptica and other bivalves showed strong homologies on positions of cysteine residues, which are important for their metal binding abilities. The gene for the MT was inserted into a pET vector and overexpressed as a carboxyl terminal extension of glutathionein-S-transferase (GST) in Escherichia coli. After the GST fusion proteins had been purified by glutathione-Sepharose affinity chromatography column and digested with enterokinase, the MT was purified with gel filtration and analyzed for its biochemical properties. Recombinant MTs were reconstituted with Cd, Cu, and Zn, and kinetic studies of the reactions with electrophilic disulphide, DTNB, were investigated to explore their metal binding ability. It is revealed that the Cd-MT and Zn-MT react with DTNB biphasically, and that Zn-MT reacts with DTNB more rapidly, and with a significantly greater pseudo-first-order rate constant. Cu-MT reacts monophasically and releases metal slowly from MT.     

Binding properties and stoichiometries of a palladium(II) complex to metallothioneins in vivo and in vitro

This paper will be the first to discuss the in vivo and in vitro properties of a Pd(II) complex, K2PdCl4, interacting with metallothioneins (MTs). In vivo experiments revealed that intraperitoneal injections of K2PdCl4 into rabbits led to the simultaneous synthesis of Pd-MT in the kidney and Zn7MT in the liver. The renal Pd-MT complex contains 3.6 +/- 0.3 Pd, 2.1 +/- 0.2 Zn, and 1.0 +/- 0.1 Cu per mole protein. It was found that pre-treatment with Zn(NO3)2 before K2PdCl4 injections significantly enhanced renal Pd-MT level. The same pre-treatment also increases hepatic Zn-MT levels. These results strongly suggest that Pd(II) ions can be bound in vivo by MT existing in the rabbit kidneys to form Pd-MT. Gel-filtration chromatographic studies after the incubation of either native Cd5Zn2MT2 or Zn7MT2 with K2PdCl4 in vitro demonstrate that Pd(II) ions promote the non-oxidative oligomerization of native MTs. Increasing the level of Pd(II) relative to MT led to a concomitant increase in the apparent yield of MT oligomers. At relatively low Pd-MT ratio, Pd(II) is found predominantly in the oligomers while the monomeric products are chiefly composed of the reactants, Cd5Zn2MT2 or Zn7MT2. Based on our experimental data, the mechanisms of the reactions between Pd(II) and MTs in vivo and in vitro are discussed.     

Counterpoint,patronage and professionalism

Abstract

Several studies have shown the role of thiol-rich proteins especially metallothionein (MT) in the therapeutic interventions against oxidative damage. Previously, we have provided strong evidence for the involvement of ROS in iron nitrilotriacetate (Fe-NTA)-induced renal toxicity, which may have relevance to its carcinogenicity. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the role of zinc metallothionein (Zn-MT) on the protection against Fe-NTA-induced renal oxidative damage. The results demonstrate that Zn-MT pretreatment provided protection against Fe-NTA-induced mortality in mice (40% protection). Similarly, Zn-MT pretreatment also provided protection against Fe-NTA-induced lipid peroxidation (26% inhibition, P < 0.001). It is proposed that Zn-MT protects kidney tissue against the noxious effect of Fe-NTA primarily by interference with lipid peroxides. It is concluded that Zn-MT may serve as an excellent physiological antioxidant against Fe-NTA-mediated renal oxidative damage.     

Metallothionein can function as a chaperone for zinc uptake transport into prostate and liver mitochondria

In mammalian cells the cytosolic concentration of free Zn(2+) ions is extremely low (nM-fM range) and unlikely to provide an adequate pool for the uptake and accumulation of zinc in mitochondria. We previously identified a mitochondrial uptake transport process that effectively transports zinc directly from low molecular weight zinc ligands independent of and in the absence of available free Zn(2+) ions. Since metallothionein (MT) is an important ligand form of cellular zinc, we determined if Zn(7)-MT was an effective chaperone and donor for delivery and uptake of zinc by prostate and liver mitochondria. The results reveal that both intact mitochondria and mitoplasts effectively accumulated zinc from Zn(7)-MT. The study confirms and extends our previous report that the putative zinc transporter is associated with the inner mitochondrial membrane and involves a direct exchange of zinc from the ligand to the transporter. The ventral prostate cells contain no detectable MT; so that ligands (such as citrate, aspartate) other than MT are zinc donors for mitochondrial zinc accumulation. However, in liver and perhaps other cells, Zn(7)-MT is probably important in the cytosolic trafficking of zinc to the mitochondria for the uptake of zinc into the mitochondrial matrix by the putative zinc uptake transporter.     

Zinc depletion suppresses tumor growth in mice

The hypothesis that in tumor-bearing animals an increase of host hepatic zinc metallothionein (Zn-MT) causes a restriction of zinc in the tumor tissue was studied. Three types of tumors were induced in laboratory mice by cell transplant. Tumor growth appears to be inhibited under zinc-deficient conditions, even in cases where zinc deficiency was started after tumor cell transplant. The survival times of tumor-bearing mice were prolonged by administration of cadmium chloride, which induces the synthesis of a combined zinc-cadmium metallothionein derivative in the host liver, but not in the tumor tissue, leading to an increase of hepatic zinc in the treated animals. The uptake of⁶⁵Zn by the liver of Cd-treated, tumor bearing mice was significantly higher than that of controls whereas uptake of⁶⁵Zn by tumor cells was significantly higher in controls than in the treated animals. These results suggest that restriction of zinc intake suppresses tumor growth.