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A sensitive cadmium-affinity assay for the determination of thionein in urine.

A sensitive cadmium-affinity assay was developed for measurement of urinary thionein (Th) level. Acidification with HCl (2.5 M) was used to remove metal ions from purified urinary metallothionein (MTh), adsorbed on activated polystyrene tubes. It was found that the amount of 109Cd bound to standard Th (rabbit Th) was proportional to that of Th in the concentration range of 20-6000 ng/ml. The method exhibited a sensitivity below 20 ng/ml and a precision of about 5%. The results of the Cd-affinity assay were unaffected by dilution of, or addition of standard Th to urine samples. Under the latter circumstances, the Cd-affinity assay was performed with a mean analytical recovery of 100.3 +/- 4%. Addition of Cd, Zn, Hg and Cu (50 micrograms each) or glutathione and cysteine (0.1 mmol) to urine specimens (1 ml) did not interfere with the determination of Th. The mean values of urinary Th in healthy subjects were 200 +/- 53 micrograms/g creatinine (n = 9) and 256 +/- 97 micrograms/g creatinine (n = 8) for men and women respectively. The mean daily excretions of Th by non-fasting female and male healthy adult rats were 9.95 +/- 2.7 micrograms (n = 10) and 18.2 +/- 3.9 micrograms, respectively. The Cd-affinity assay succeeded in indicating Cd exposure and/or development of Cd toxicity in rats.

Animals↗

Occurrence and synthesis of a non-thionein, zinc-binding protein in the rainbow trout (Salmo gairdneri).

A non-thionein, Zn-binding protein (ZBP) was induced in Donaldson strain rainbow trout (Salmo gairdneri) by 7 mg/kg, i.p. injections of divalent Zn ion. The Sephacryl S-200 used for supernatant fractionation had to be saturated with Zn to recover quantitatively the Zn-ZBP complex. The ZBP was present in liver and kidney, but was absent from gill and spleen. The apparent molecular weights of the liver and kidney ZBP as estimated by gel filtration were 17,300 +/- 1300 (SD; N = 11) and 18,100 (N = 1), respectively. Starvation induced hepatic ZBP synthesis whereas cycloheximide inhibited hepatic ZBP synthesis. The quantity of hepatic ZBP synthesized varied with the temperature of the water in which the trout resided. The maximum quantity of ZBP in the liver following a single 7 mg/kg Zn injection (17 micrograms Zn/g liver wet weight) occurred at 24 hr.

Animals↗

On the copper transfer between dopamine beta-monooxygenase and Cu-thionein.

Metallothionein saturated with copper is able to donate copper to apodopamine beta-monooxygenase. The complete recovery of dopamine beta-monooxygenase activity is observed at the molar ratio Cu-thionein/apoenzyme of 25. On the other hand, apothionein accepts copper easily from the holoenzyme.

Adrenal Medulla↗

Drosophila MTN: a metazoan copper-thionein related to fungal forms.

Two Drosophila metallothioneins (MT) have been reported: MTN, a 40 residue peptide including 10 Cys, and MTO, a 43 residue peptide including 12 Cys. However, neither functional nor evolutionary analyses for either of the Drosophila MT are available. Here, heterologous expression of Mtn in Escherichia coli is reported. The metal binding abilities of the Cu- and Zn-MTN complexes conformed in vivo, as well as the features of the Cd- and Cu-aggregates produced by metal replacement in vitro, have been determined by atomic emission spectrometry, circular dichroism and electrospray ionization mass spectrometry. Primary structure relationships with other MT have been examined. The results indicate a close resemblance of MTN to fungal copper-thioneins.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Isolation of (copper, zinc-) thioneins from pig liver.

The copper-binding proteins with mol. wt. of approx. 12000 in the cytosol of pig liver have been identified as copper-thioneins. They contain variable amounts of zinc, with approx. 10% total metal in the protein. The molar cysteine/metal ratio is approx. 2:1.

Amino Acids↗

Yeast copper-thionein can reconstitute the Japanese-lacquer-tree (Rhus vernicifera) laccase from the Type 2-copper-depleted enzyme via a direct copper(I)-transfer mechanism.

The Type 2-Cu-depleted laccase from the Japanese lacquer tree (Rhus vernicifera) can be reconstituted with CuSO4 aerobically and much more rapidly and efficiently under anaerobic reducing conditions. This is to be related to a more favourable conformation of a laccase in the reduced state, rather than to reduction of the metal ion. In fact, reconstitution with Cu(I)-thionein from baker's yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) only proceeds under anaerobic reducing conditions, via a direct transfer of Cu(I).

Binding Sites↗

Copper(I) transfer into apo-stellacyanin using copper(I)-thiourea as a copper-thionein model.

The direct incorporation of Cu(I) from [Cu(I)(thiourea)3]Cl, a structural analogue of Cu-thionein, into apo-stellacyanin, was successful both aerobically and anaerobically. A characteristic c.d. band of Cu(I)-stellacyanin at 270 nm (0 = -12.5 X 10(3) degrees X cm2 X dmol-1) was seen. On oxidation with hexacyanoferrate(III) or by air, the correct Cu(II) binding into the active centre of this 'Type 1' Cu-protein was deduced from chiroptical measurements which were supported by e.p.r. data. Thus Cu-thiourea turned out to be an excellent Cu(I)-donor in aqueous systems for the complete reconstitution of mononuclear Blue copper proteins.

Apoproteins↗

Simultaneous induction of Pb-metallothionein-like protein and Zn-thionein in the liver of rats given lead acetate.

Administration of a sublethal dose of lead acetate to rats induced the simultaneous synthesis of a Pb-metallothionein (Pb-MT)-like protein (Pb-BP) and Zn-thionein (Zn-BP) in the liver. The Pb-BP had an apparent molecule mass of 6900 Da and seemed to bind preferentially to lead in the liver cytosol. The Zn-BP was identified by comparison of the Mr, elution profiles from Sephadex G-75 and DEAE-Sephadex A-25 columns, and polyacrylamide-gel-electrophoretic mobility, with those of rat liver Zn-MT-II. The Pb-BP accumulated in the liver to a maximum 6 h after the intraperitoneal injection of lead acetate and accounted for about 60% of the lead in the liver cytosol at this stage. However, after that, it gradually decreased in the liver, until it was close to the basal amount 24 h after the induction. In contrast, the amount of Zn-MT increased gradually, reached a maximum 12 h after the administration of lead acetate and maintained a constant value until at least 24 h after the induction. Amino acid analysis of the Pb-BP indicated that it contained about 28% half-cysteine. These results strongly suggest that lead acetate induces the synthesis of Pb-MT as well as Zn-MT in rat liver.

Amino Acids↗

The crystal structure of yeast copper thionein: the solution of a long-lasting enigma.

We report here the crystal structure of yeast copper thionein (Cu-MT), determined at 1.44-A resolution. The Cu-MT structure shows the largest known oligonuclear Cu(I) thiolate cluster in biology, consisting of six trigonally and two digonally coordinated Cu(I) ions. This is at variance with the results from previous spectroscopic determinations, which were performed on MT samples containing seven rather than eight metal ions. The protein backbone has a random coil structure with the loops enfolding the copper cluster, which is located in a cleft where it is bound to 10 cysteine residues. The protein structure is somewhat different from that of Ag(7)-MT and similar, but not identical, to that of Cu(7)-MT. Besides the different structure of the metal cluster, the main differences lie in the cysteine topology and in the conformation of some portions of the backbone. The present structure suggests that Cu-MT, in addition to its role as a safe depository for copper ions in the cell, may play an active role in the delivery of copper to metal-free chaperones.

Copper↗

Thionein can serve as a reducing agent for the methionine sulfoxide reductases.

It has been generally accepted, primarily from studies on methionine sulfoxide reductase (Msr) A, that the biological reducing agent for the members of the Msr family is reduced thioredoxin (Trx), although high levels of DTT can be used as the reductant in vitro. Preliminary experiments using both human recombinant MsrB2 (hMsrB2) and MsrB3 (hMsrB3) showed that although DTT can function in vitro as the reducing agent, Trx works very poorly, prompting a more careful comparison of the ability of DTT and Trx to function as reducing agents with the various members of the Msr family. Escherichia coli MsrA and MsrB and bovine MsrA efficiently use either Trx or DTT as reducing agents. In contrast, hMsrB2 and hMsrB3 show <10% of the activity with Trx as compared with DTT, raising the possibility that, in animal cells, Trx may not be the direct hydrogen donor or that there may be a Trx-independent reducing system required for MsrB2 and MsrB3 activity. A heat-stable protein has been detected in bovine liver that, in the presence of EDTA, can support the Msr reaction in the absence of either Trx or DTT. This protein has been identified as a zinc-containing metallothionein (Zn-MT). The results indicate that thionein (T), which is formed when the zinc is removed from Zn-MT, can function as a reducing system for the Msr proteins because of its high content of cysteine residues and that Trx can reduce oxidized T.

Animals↗

Differential fluorescence labeling of cysteinyl clusters uncovers high tissue levels of thionein.

The isolation of thionein (T) from tissues has not been reported heretofore. T contains 20 cysteinyl residues that react with 7-fluorobenz-2-oxa-1,3-diazole-4-sulfonamide to form fluorescent adducts. In metallothionein (MT) the cysteinyl residues, which are bound to zinc, do not react. However, they do react in the presence of a chelating agent such as EDTA. The resultant difference in chemical reactivity provides a means to measure T in the absence of EDTA, (MT + T) in its presence, and, of course, MT by difference. The 7-fluorobenz-2-oxa-1,3-diazole-4-sulfonamide derivative of T can be isolated from tissue homogenates by HPLC and quantified fluorimetrically with a detection limit in the femtomolar range and a linear response over 3 orders of magnitude. Analysis of liver, kidney, and brain of rats reveals almost as much T as MT. Moreover, in contrast to earlier views, MT in tissue extracts appears to be less stable than T. The existence of T in tissues under normal physiological conditions has important implications for its function both in zinc metabolism and the redox balance of the cell.

Animals↗

Inhibitory sites in enzymes: zinc removal and reactivation by thionein.

Thionein (T) has not been isolated previously from biological material. However, it is generated transiently in situ by removal of zinc from metallothionein under oxidoreductive conditions, particularly in the presence of selenium compounds. T very rapidly activates a group of enzymes in which zinc is bound at an inhibitory site. The reaction is selective, as is apparent from the fact that T does not remove zinc from the catalytic sites of zinc metalloenzymes. T instantaneously reverses the zinc inhibition with a stoichiometry commensurate with its known capacity to bind seven zinc atoms in the form of clusters in metallothionein. The zinc inhibition is much more pronounced than was previously reported, with dissociation constants in the low nanomolar range. Thus, T is an effective, endogenous chelating agent, suggesting the existence of a hitherto unknown and unrecognized biological regulatory system. T removes the metal from an inhibitory zinc-specific enzymatic site with a resultant marked increase of activity. The potential significance of this system is supported by the demonstration of its operations in enzymes involved in glycolysis and signal transduction.

Aldehyde Dehydrogenase↗

Abnormal copper-thionein synthesis and impaired copper utilization in mutated brindled mice: model for Menkes' disease.

The copper utilization in mutated Brindled mice is impaired. Copper accumulates in various tissues, e.g., the kidney, of the mutated mice. The renal copper binding protein is characterized as copper-thionein--metallothionein to which copper is bound. The L-[35S]cystine incorporation experiments without prior induction with copper revealed an abnormal synthesis of metallothionein in the mutated mice. Two models are proposed which link the abnormal metallothionein synthesis with an impaired copper utilization. Model 1 is an unrestrained translation of renal mRNA which codes for metallothionein. Model 2 is an impaired renal copper reabsorption resulting in a toxic intracellular copper concentration which induces metallothionein synthesis to sequester copper. The impaired copper utilization results in a fatal copper deficiency in "Menkes" Brindled mice.

Animals↗

Early cellular effects of circulating cadmium-thionein on kidney proximal tubules.

Circulating cadmium-thionein (Cd-MT) is cleared from the mammalian circulatory system by filtration through the kidney glomerulus with subsequent reabsorption by kidney proximal tubules. Damage to the tubules results following uptake of Cd-MT, which is dependent upon time and the dose level of cadmium administered. Intravenous administration of 109Cd-MT at doses of 0.017 and 0.17 mg Cd/kg body weight with examination of total renal uptake of 109Cd at 0.5, 3, and 24 hr disclosed that the rate of clearance from the blood and uptake by the kidney was significantly more rapid at the 0.017 mg Cd/kg dose. Ultrastructural changes resulting from intravenous injection of either form A or B of Cd-MT were characterized by increased numbers of pinocytotic vesicles and small, dense lysosomal structures. There was no evidence of mitochondrial swelling or cell death at either 3 or 6 hr after injection. The subcellular distribution of cadmium in kidney tissue at various times after administration of Cd-MT was determined by using differential centrifugation techniques with 109Cd and in situ by using x-ray microanalysis. At 30 min after injection of Cd-MT, significant amounts of cadmium were present in lysosomal fractions indicating an interaction between the tubular lysosome system and Cd-MT prior to the onset of overt cellular toxicity. Results suggest that Cd-MT is reabsorbed and broken down by kidney tubule cells in a physiological manner with possible subsequent release of the toxic cadmium ion.

Animals↗

Alteration of radiosensitivity in metallothionein induced mice and a possible role of Zn-Cu-thionein in GSH-peroxidase system.

Based upon the observation that the mice injected with metallothionein (MT) inducing metals e.g. Cd(3mg/kg), Mn(10mg/kg) of Zn(20mg/kg) 24 hours prior to irradiation showed a marked tolerance against lethal damage due to LD50(30) level radiation and that the levels of MT in liver were elevated to three to twenty fold, i.e. 80-500 micrograms/g liver in these mice, it was assumed that the alteration of zinc turnover which accompanies the synthesis of metallothionein will correlate with a protection mechanism against radiation. Reviewing the biochemical protection mechanism of organisms against various environmental factors as well as various aspects of biological function of metals, the obtained results were discussed and it was tentatively hypothesized the role of zincthionein which could work in the glutathione peroxidase system. Finally the obtained biochemical evidences in vitro are presented.

Animals↗