Biomaterial Database

Copper metallothionein, a copper-binding protein from Neurospora crassa. 1980

K Lerch

Copper is an essential constituent of many proteins which participate in biologically important reactions. In contrast to iron, where different metal storage and transport proteins have been extensively characterised, the existence of copper proteins serving such functions is still a matter of controversy. Studies on the biosynthesis of tyrosinase from Neurospora crassa with respect to the copper status of this fungus have shown that this organism accumulates copper with the concomitant synthesis of a small molecular weight copper-binding protein. This protein is now shown to have a striking sequence homology to the zinc- and cadmium-containing metallothioneins from vertebrates. Growth experiments suggest that this molecule fulfills several important physiological functions in this organism such as copper storage, copper detoxification and provision of copper for tyrosinase.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D008667	Metalloproteins	Proteins that have one or more tightly bound metal ions forming part of their structure. (Dorland, 28th ed)	Metalloprotein
D008668	Metallothionein	A low-molecular-weight (approx. 10 kD) protein occurring in the cytoplasm of kidney cortex and liver. It is rich in cysteinyl residues and contains no aromatic amino acids. Metallothionein shows high affinity for bivalent heavy metals.	Isometallothionein,Metallothionein A,Metallothionein B,Metallothionein I,Metallothionein II,Metallothionein IIA
D009491	Neurospora	A genus of ascomycetous fungi, family Sordariaceae, order SORDARIALES, comprising bread molds. They are capable of converting tryptophan to nicotinic acid and are used extensively in genetic and enzyme research. (Dorland, 27th ed)	Neurosporas
D009492	Neurospora crassa	A species of ascomycetous fungi of the family Sordariaceae, order SORDARIALES, much used in biochemical, genetic, and physiologic studies.	Chrysonilia crassa
D003300	Copper	A heavy metal trace element with the atomic symbol Cu, atomic number 29, and atomic weight 63.55.	Copper-63,Copper 63
D000595	Amino Acid Sequence	The order of amino acids as they occur in a polypeptide chain. This is referred to as the primary structure of proteins. It is of fundamental importance in determining PROTEIN CONFORMATION.	Protein Structure, Primary,Amino Acid Sequences,Sequence, Amino Acid,Sequences, Amino Acid,Primary Protein Structure,Primary Protein Structures,Protein Structures, Primary,Structure, Primary Protein,Structures, Primary Protein
D000596	Amino Acids	Organic compounds that generally contain an amino (-NH2) and a carboxyl (-COOH) group. Twenty alpha-amino acids are the subunits which are polymerized to form proteins.	Amino Acid,Acid, Amino,Acids, Amino