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.