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Sheep have an unusual variant of the brain-specific metallothionein, metallothionein-III

journal contribution
posted on 2023-05-16, 13:44 authored by Chung, RS, Adele HollowayAdele Holloway, Eckhardt, BL, Julie HarrisJulie Harris, James VickersJames Vickers, Meng Inn ChuahMeng Inn Chuah, Adrian WestAdrian West
Sheep metallothionein-III (MT-III) cDNA was isolated from a brain cDNA library and characterized. In contrast with MT-III from other species, sheep MT-III cDNA is predicted to encode a protein with significantly different metal-binding properties, owing to the loss of three of its cysteine residues. RT-PCR from other sheep confirmed that this aberrant structure is ubiquitous in this species. MT-III was successfully isolated from sheep brain, demonstrating that the cDNA does give rise to a protein product of the predicted structure. Sheep MT-III is similar to other mammalian MT-IIIs in that it retains the Cys-Pro-Cys-Pro motif which is thought to encode growth-inhibitory activity, and we show that it is likewise able to inhibit neuron survival in vitro. This is the first naturally occurring variant of MT-III (or any other major mammalian MT gene) which gives rise to a protein product. These findings are discussed in light of proposed roles of MT in the mammalian brain.

History

Publication title

Biochemical Journal

Volume

365

Pagination

323-328

ISSN

0264-6021

Department/School

Tasmanian School of Medicine

Publisher

Portland Press

Place of publication

London, UK

Repository Status

  • Restricted

Socio-economic Objectives

Clinical health not elsewhere classified

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