脑特异性金属硫蛋白Ⅲ研究进展

金属硫蛋白Ⅲ（ＭＴⅢ）是富含半胱氨酸的低分子量蛋白,主要在脑内含Ｚｎ２＋神经元表达,与脑的发育过程有关。ＭＴⅢ可抑制体外培养的神经细胞生长和存活。ＭＴⅢ与Ｚｎ２＋的结合有相对特异性,可能影响依赖于Ｚｎ２＋的一系列生物活动。ＡＤ患者脑内ＭＴⅢ表达减少,敲除ＭＴⅢ基因的小鼠对红藻氨酸诱发癫痫更敏感,提示ＭＴⅢ可能在某些脑变性疾病过程中发挥作用     

以FITC作为荧光探针研究金属硫蛋白的构象变化

本文以异硫氰基荧光素（ＦＩＴＣ）作为荧光探针标记于金属硫蛋白分子上,用荧光光谱研究了Ｃｄ＾２＋及Ａｇ＾＋离子与ＺｎＭＴ２－ＦＩＴＣ进行金属交换及与ＡｐｏＭＴ２－ＦＩＴＣ进行金属重组时的构象变化。结果表明,标记后ＭＴ与Ｃｄ＾２＋离子进行金属交换及金属重组时不具有明显的结构域特征,而Ａｇ＾＋离子进行金属交换及金属重组时,分别在Ａｇ６ＭＴ、Ａｇ１２ＭＴ及Ａｇ１８ＭＴ处具有明显的结构域形成特征。此外高温下     

兔肝金属硫蛋白结合铅离子的圆二色性光谱研究

从锌诱导的家兔肝脏中分离纯化得到金属硫蛋白两种亚型：ＺｎＭＴ－Ⅰ和ＺｎＭＴ－Ⅱ．在酸性条件下脱金属,经Ｓｅｐｈａｄｅｘ Ｇ－２５柱层析得到脱金属硫蛋白（ａｐｏＭＴｓ）．用圆二色性（ＣＤ）光谱法研究,发现两种亚型ａｐｏＭＴｓ 与Ｐｂ２＋ 的结合依赖于Ｐｂ２＋ 的加入比例及ｐＨ 值．ａｐｏＭＴ－Ⅰ在ｐＨ３～５之间,ａｐｏＭＴ－Ⅱ在ｐＨ４～６之间与Ｐｂ２＋ 结合形成特征簇合物Ｐｂ７ＭＴｓ,其ＣＤ谱图特征峰位于３１６ｎｍ （－ ）,２７０ ｎｍ （＋ ）,２４５ ｎｍ （＋ ）及２２５ ｎｍ （－ ）,提示解铅中毒的最佳条件应控制在弱酸性环境．不同亚型ａｐｏＭＴｓ 与Ｐｂ２＋ 的结合方式各不相同：Ｐｂ２＋ 与ａｐｏＭＴ－Ⅰ的结合采取平均分配的方式,而与ａｐｏＭＴ－Ⅱ则为选择性结合方式,表明这两种亚型在解铅毒功能上存在差异．     

脱金属硫蛋白与二价汞离子的络合作用及构象研究

用圆二色谱研究兔肝锐金属硫蛋白的两个亚型ａｐｏ－ＭＴ１、ａｐｏ－ＭＴ２与Ｈｇ＾２＋在不同分子数比和ｐＨ值下的络合规律。发现：（１）在ｐＨ２下与Ｈｇ＾２＋重组ＭＴｓ的ＣＤ谱特征峰是３０４ｎｍ（＋）,２６０ｎｍ（－）,２５０ｎｍ（＋）。络合Ｈｇ＾２＋的数目ｎ远远超过７。任何ｐＨ值下过量Ｈｇ＾２＋的存在都将破坏ＭＴｓ的正常构象。ｐＨ值对形成和维持ＭＴｓ稳定构象的影响很大,当ｐＨ≥４．９时,ａｐｏ－ＭＴｓ     

金属硫蛋白清除自由基及其对自由基引起的核酸损伤保护作用的研究

通过化学反应体系产生ＯＨ＾－和Ｏ＾－２自由基,采用荧光和化学发光检测体系,比较研究了不同亚型及不同结合金属的金属硫蛋白（ＭＴ）清除自由基能力的大小。结果表明,对于同一亚型,Ｚｎ结合ＭＴ清除自由基的能力大于Ｃｄ结合ＭＴ;同一结合金属的ＭＴ,ＭＴ１清除自由基的能力大于ＭＴ２。通过比较ＺｎＭＴ１与谷胱甘肽（ＧＳＨ）及超氧化物歧化酶（ＳＯＤ）清除自由基的能力大小发现,ＺｎＭＴ１清除ＯＨ的能力是ＧＳＨ的１０     

锌7—金属硫蛋白与镉7—金属硫蛋白抗羟自由基保护线粒 …

制备了Ｚｎ７－与Ｃｄ７－金属硫蛋白。分离出大鼠心肌线粒体。用电子自旋共振自旋标记方法测定线粒体膜脂流动性及膜蛋白构象,运动性,分析了线粒体Ｃａ＾２＋－Ｍｇ６２＋－ＭＡＴＰ酶活性及＾４５Ｃａ摄入。羟自由基损伤使线粒体膜脂流动性下降,膜蛋白构象改变及运动性降低,线粒体Ｃａ＾２＋－Ｍｇ＾２＋ＡＴＰ酶活性降低及＾４５Ｃａ的摄入活性下降。     

Ca2+对叶绿体光还原活性的影响及与钙调素的关系

外加Ｃａ＾２＋能有效地提高杂交水稻汕优６３离体叶绿体的光还原活性,Ｃａ＾２＋专一性螯合剂乙二醇双乙胺醚四乙酸（ＥＧＴＡ）抑制其活性,钙调素（ＣａＭ）抑制剂三氟拉嗪（ＴＦＰ）,Ｃａ＾２＋通道阻断剂Ｃｏ＾２＋,以及Ｚｎ＾２＋抑制离体叶素体的光还原活性,外加Ｃａ＾２＋可以部分地减少ＴＦＰ,Ｃｏ＾２＋和Ｚｎ＾２＋抑制作用,叶绿体的光还原活性与Ｃａ＾２＋和ＣａＭ密切相关。     

植物类MT与植物络合肽

金属硫蛋白在哺乳动物的解毒方面民挥着重要作用,植物本身也存在类似的解毒机制。研究表明,植物存在基因编码的类ＭＴ,另外还有非基因编码的植物ＭＴ,又称植物络合肽,类ＭＴ在必需重金属离子（例如Ｚｎ＾２＋、Ｃｕ＾２＋）的代谢中挥着重要作用而植物络合肽在非必需重金属离子（例如Ｃｄ＾２＋）的解毒中起到关键作用。本文了类ＭＴ和植物络合肽之间的关系以及各自的生物合成途径、相关的结构与功能、在植物中的分布等。     

乙型肝炎病毒包膜M蛋白在巴斯德毕德毕赤酵母中的表达

转化了乙肝病毒ｐｒｅＳ２－２基因的重组巴斯德毕赤酵母菌株经甘油培养基充分增殖,然后转移到甲醇培养基中进行诱导表达,破碎细胞并提胞内蛋白,经ＥＬＩＳＡ和ＷｅｓｔｅｎＢｌｏｔ检测证明有４株ＧＳ１１５／ＨＩ＾＋ＭＵＴ＾＋表达了ＨＢＶ Ｍ蛋白。     

锌_7-金属硫蛋白与镉_7-金属硫蛋白抗羟自由基保护线粒体效应

制备了Ｚｎ７－与Ｃｄ７－金属硫蛋白。分离出大鼠心肌线粒体。用电子自旋共振自旋标记方法测定线粒体膜脂流动性及膜蛋白构象、运动性。分析了线粒体Ｃａ２＋－Ｍｇ２＋－ＡＴＰ酶活性及４５Ｃａ摄入。羟自由基损伤使线粒体膜脂流动性下降,膜蛋白构象改变及运动性降低,线粒体Ｃａ２＋－Ｍｇ２＋－ＡＴＰ酶活性降低及４５Ｃａ摄入活性下降。Ｚｎ７－金属硫蛋白与Ｃｄ７－金属硫蛋白均有抗羟自由基、保护心肌线粒体的作用,且Ｚｎ７－金属硫蛋白的作用比Ｃｄ７－金属硫蛋白的作用更明显。原因是去金属蛋白对Ｃｄ２＋的亲和力比对Ｚｎ２＋高１００００倍,因而在近ｐＨ中性的环境中,Ｚｎ７－金属硫蛋白将释放更多Ｚｎ２＋,并暴露较多的还原态巯基。     

Ischemia induces metallothionein III expression in neurons of rat brain

Metallothionein III (MT-III) is a brain-specific member of the metallothionein family and binds zinc in vivo. In order to confirm the precise localization of MT-III in normal rat brain and the change of MT-III expression after transient whole brain ischemia, we raised a high affinity phagemid-antibody specific for rat MT-III. Immunohistochemical analysis revealed that MT-III in normal brain is localized abundantly in neuronal cell bodies in CA1-3 regions of hippocampus, dentate gyrus, cerebral cortex, olfactory bulb and Purkinje cells in cerebellum. This expression pattern of MT-III was similar to that of MT-III mRNA observed by in situ hybridization studies. ELISA and Northern blot analysis revealed that MT-III protein as well as mRNA levels were up-regulated in cerebrum soon after ischemic stress. Immunohistochemical analysis also demonstrated intense staining in neurons in injured brain after ischemia, which distributed in the same regions as in normal brain. These results suggest that MT-III plays an important role in protecting neurons from ischemic insult by reducing neurotoxic zinc levels and inhibits uncontrolled growth of neurites after ischemia.     

Metallothionein-III prevents glutamate and nitric oxide neurotoxicity in primary cultures of cerebellar neurons

Metallothionein (MT)-III, a member of the MT family of metal-binding proteins, is mainly expressed in the CNS and is abundant in glutamatergic neurons. Results in genetically altered mice indicate that MT-III may play neuroprotective roles in the brain, but the mechanisms through which this protein functions have not been elucidated. The aim of this work was to assess whether MT-III is able to prevent glutamate neurotoxicity and to identify the step of the neurotoxic process interfered with by MT-III. Glutamate neurotoxicity in cerebellar neurons in culture is mediated by excessive activation of glutamate receptors, increased intracellular calcium, and increased nitric oxide. It is shown that MT-III prevented glutamate- and nitric oxide-induced neurotoxicity in a dose-dependent manner, with nearly complete protection at 0.3-1 microgram/ml. MT-III did not prevent the glutamate-induced rise of intracellular calcium level but reduced significantly the nitric oxide-induced formation of cyclic GMP. Circular dichroism analysis revealed that nitric oxide triggers the release of the metals coordinated to the cysteine residues of MT-III, indicative of the S(Cys)-nitrosylation of the protein. Therefore, the present results indicate that MT-III can quench pathological levels of nitric oxide, thus preventing glutamate and nitric oxide neurotoxicity.     

Metallothionein-III antagonizes the neurotoxic and neurotrophic effects of amyloid beta peptides

Metallothionein-III (MT-III) protects cerebral cortical neurons in established culture from the toxic effect of amyloid beta peptides (Abetas). Protection is concentration dependent and approaches 100% at 0.1 microM. The EC(50) value estimated at 5 microM Abeta(1-40) is 2 nM. At higher concentrations (>0.1 microM), MT-III also antagonizes the trophic effect of Abeta(1-40) on cerebral cortical neurons in early cultures. Because only the fibrillar, SDS-resistant form of Abeta aggregates are thought to be neurotoxic, we analyzed and compared Abeta(1-40) aggregates formed in the presence and absence of MT-III using SDS-PAGE. Results show that aggregates formed in the absence of MT-III are predominantly SDS-resistant whereas those formed in its presence are mostly SDS-soluble. Neither MT-I nor -II exhibits any of the effects of MT-III. On the basis of these results, we propose that MT-III alleviates Abetas' neurotoxic effect by abolishing the formation of toxic aggregates of Abetas and that it may play a specific and important role in protecting the brain from the deleterious effects of Abetas.     

PEP-1–metallothionein-III protein ameliorates the oxidative stress-induced neuronal cell death and brain ischemic insults

Background

Oxidative stress is considered to be involved in a number of human diseases including ischemia. Metallothioneins (MT)-III can protect neuronal cells from the cytotoxicity of reactive oxygen species (ROS). However, MT-III proteins biological function is unclear in ischemia. Thus, we examined the protective effects of MT-III proteins on oxidative stress-induced neuronal cell death and brain ischemic insult.

Methods

A human MT-III gene was fused with a protein transduction domain, PEP-1 peptide, to construct a cell permeable PEP-1–MT-III protein. PEP-1–MT-III protein was purified using affinity chromatograph. Transduced PEP-1–MT-III proteins were detected by Western blotting and immunoflourescence. Cell viability and DNA fragmentation were analyzed by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-dipheyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay and terminal dexoynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick-end labeling (TUNEL) staining, respectively. Brain ischemic injury was detected with immunohistochemistry.

Results

Purified PEP-1–MT-III proteins transduced into astrocytes in a time- and dose-dependent manner and protected against oxidative stress-induced cell death. Also, transduced PEP-1–MT-III proteins efficiently protected cells against DNA fragmentation. Furthermore, immunohistochemical analysis revealed that PEP-1–MT-III prevented neuronal cell death in the CA1 region of the hippocampus induced by transient forebrain ischemia. We demonstrated that transduced PEP-1–MT-III protein protects against oxidative stress induced cell death in vitro and in vivo.

General significance

Transduced PEP-1–MT-III protein has neuroprotective roles as an antioxidant in vitro and in vivo. PEP-1–MT-III protein is a potential therapeutic agent for various human brain diseases such as stroke, Alzheimer's disease, and Parkinson's disease.     

S-nitrosothiols react preferentially with zinc thiolate clusters of metallothionein III through transnitrosation

Metallothionein (MT) is a two-domain protein with zinc thiolate clusters that bind and release zinc depending on the redox states of the sulfur ligands. Since S-nitrosylation of cysteine is considered a prototypic cellular redox signaling mechanism, we here investigate the reactions of S-nitrosothiols with different isoforms of MT. MT-III is significantly more reactive than MT-I/II toward S-nitrosothiols, whereas the reactivity of all three isoforms toward reactive oxygen species is comparable. A cellular system, in which all three MTs are similarly effective in protecting rat embryonic cortical neurons in primary culture against hydrogen peroxide but where MT-III has a much more pronounced effect of protecting against S-nitrosothiols, confirms this finding. MT-III is the only isoform with consensus acid-base sequence motifs for S-nitrosylation in both domains. Studies with synthetic and zinc-reconstituted domain peptides demonstrate that S-nitrosothiols indeed release zinc from both the alpha- and the beta-domain of MT-III. S-Nitrosylation occurs via transnitrosation, a mechanism that differs fundamentally from that of previous studies of reactions of MT with NO*. Our data demonstrate that zinc thiolate bonds are targets of S-nitrosothiol signaling and further indicate that MT-III is biologically specific in converting NO signals to zinc signals. This could bear importantly on the physiological action of MT-III, whose biological activity as a neuronal growth inhibitory factor is unique, and for brain diseases that have been related to oxidative or nitrosative stress.     

Expression of neuronal growth inhibitory factor (metallothionein-III) in the salivary gland

Metallothioneins (MTs) are metal-binding proteins that have been regarded as intrinsic factors for protecting cells and tissues from metal toxicity and oxidants. Among the three major classes of MTs, MT-III is different from other MTs because it has neuronal inhibitory activity and is only expressed in the central nervous system. Recent studies, however, have confirmed that MT-III is also expressed in organs other than the brain. These findings not only indicate that MT-III has a much wider tissue distribution than was originally thought, but also suggest that it might have other unknown activities. In the present study, we examined the human salivary and thyroid glands and demonstrated that the MT-III gene is also expressed in the salivary but not in the thyroid gland. While salivary ducts showed intense immuno-reactivity with anti-MT-III, weak immunoreactivity was observed in acinar cells. This, together with the findings that some neuromodulators (i.e. nerve growth factor, etc.) exist in the salivary gland and that MT-III may participate in the transport in renal tubules, suggest that MT-III may have other functions than cytoprotection in the salivary gland.     

Effect of nitric oxide synthesis inhibition on mouse liver and brain metallothionein expression

The role of nitric oxide (NO) production on metallothionein (MT) regulation in the liver and the brain has been studied in mice by means of the administration of nitric oxide synthase (NOS) inhibitors. Mice injected with either the arginine analog N^G-monomethyl-L-arginine (L-NMMA) or the heme binding compound 7-nitro indazole (7-NI) showed consistently increased liver MT-I mRNA and MT-I+II total protein levels, suggesting that NO is involved in the hepatic MT regulation. In agreement with the liver results, in situ hybridization analysis demonstrated a significant upregulation of the brain MT-I isoform in areas such as the cerebrum cortex, neuronal CA1-CA3 layers and dentate gyrus of the hippocampus, and Purkinje cell layer of the cerebellum, in 7-NI treated mice. The same trend was observed for the brain specific isoform, MT-III, but to a much lower extent. The effect of NOS inhibition was also evaluated in a MT-inducing condition, namely during immobilization stress. In both the liver and the brain, stress upregulated the MT-I isoform, and 7-NI significantly reduced or even blunted the MT-I response to stress, suggesting a mediating role of NO on MT-I regulation during stress. Stress also increased the MT-III mRNA levels in some brain areas, an effect blunted by the concomitant administration of 7-NI, which in some areas even decreased MT-III mRNA levels below the saline injected mice. Results in primary culture of neurons and astrocytes demonstrate significant effects of the NOS inhibitors in some experimental conditions. The present results suggest that NO may have some role on MT regulation in both the liver and the brain.     

Fourier transform IR and Fourier transform Raman spectroscopy studies of metallothionein-III: amide I band assignments and secondary structural comparison with metallothioneins-I and -II

The secondary structures of porcine brain Cu(4)Zn(3)-metallothionein (MT)-III and Cd(5)Zn(2)MT-I, Cd(5)Zn(2)MT-II, and Zn(7)MT-I from rabbit livers in the solid state are investigated by Fourier transform IR spectroscopy (FTIR) and Fourier transform Raman spectroscopy (FT-Raman). The Cu(4)Zn(3)MT-III contains 26-28% beta-turns and half-turns, 13-14% 3(10)-helices, 47-49% random coils, and 11-12% beta-extended chains. The structural comparison of porcine brain Cu(4)Zn(3)MT-III with rabbit liver Cd(5)Zn(2)MT-I (II) and Zn(7)MT-I shows that the contents of the random coil structure are obviously increased. The results indicate that the insert of an acidic hexapeptide in the alpha domain of Cu(4)Zn(3)MT-III possibly forms an alpha helix. However, because the bands assigned to the alpha-helix and random coil structures are overlapped in the spectra, the content of random coil structures in Cu(4)Zn(3)MT-III is therefore higher than those in Cd(5)Zn(2)MT-I, Cd(5)Zn(2)MT-II, and Zn(7)MT-I.