Biomaterial Database

Ovine and bovine metallothioneins: purification, number of species, zinc content and amino acid composition. 1981

P D Whanger, and S H Oh, and J T Deagen

Metallothioneins (MTs) were purified with respect to zinc from tissues of cattle and sheep which had been fed high levels of dietary zinc. These proteins were purified by gel filtration (Sephadex G-75), ion exchange chromatography (twice on DEAE Sephacel) and gel filtration again (Bio-Gel P-10). There is one major and up to three minor MT species in liver, kidney and pancreas from both sheep and cattle. The amount of zinc varies between the different species of MT. Amino acid analyses of the purified preparations revealed a cysteine content of up to 35.7% and the absence of aromatic amino acids for the major species, but the minor proteins contained less cysteine and some aromatic amino acids. The significance of MT in zinc metabolism is discussed.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D007668	Kidney	Body organ that filters blood for the secretion of URINE and that regulates ion concentrations.	Kidneys
D008099	Liver	A large lobed glandular organ in the abdomen of vertebrates that is responsible for detoxification, metabolism, synthesis and storage of various substances.	Livers
D008297	Male		Males
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
D010179	Pancreas	A nodular organ in the ABDOMEN that contains a mixture of ENDOCRINE GLANDS and EXOCRINE GLANDS. The small endocrine portion consists of the ISLETS OF LANGERHANS secreting a number of hormones into the blood stream. The large exocrine portion (EXOCRINE PANCREAS) is a compound acinar gland that secretes several digestive enzymes into the pancreatic ductal system that empties into the DUODENUM.
D002417	Cattle	Domesticated bovine animals of the genus Bos, usually kept on a farm or ranch and used for the production of meat or dairy products or for heavy labor.	Beef Cow,Bos grunniens,Bos indicus,Bos indicus Cattle,Bos taurus,Cow,Cow, Domestic,Dairy Cow,Holstein Cow,Indicine Cattle,Taurine Cattle,Taurus Cattle,Yak,Zebu,Beef Cows,Bos indicus Cattles,Cattle, Bos indicus,Cattle, Indicine,Cattle, Taurine,Cattle, Taurus,Cattles, Bos indicus,Cattles, Indicine,Cattles, Taurine,Cattles, Taurus,Cow, Beef,Cow, Dairy,Cow, Holstein,Cows,Dairy Cows,Domestic Cow,Domestic Cows,Indicine Cattles,Taurine Cattles,Taurus Cattles,Yaks,Zebus
D003545	Cysteine	A thiol-containing non-essential amino acid that is oxidized to form CYSTINE.	Cysteine Hydrochloride,Half-Cystine,L-Cysteine,Zinc Cysteinate,Half Cystine,L Cysteine
D004032	Diet	Regular course of eating and drinking adopted by a person or animal.	Diets
D005260	Female		Females