Physiological and chemical characterization of cyanobacterial metallothioneins
Techniques have been developed for detection, quantitation, and isolation of bacterial metallothioneins (MTs) from cyanobacterial species. These methods involve differential pulse polarography and reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and have allowed detection of picomole quantities of these high sulfhydryl content proteins. The prokaryotic molecule was found to be induced in the presence of Cd or Zn salts with regulation at the level of transcription. Exposure to the former metals resulted in a growth lag followed by simultaneous induction of MT synthesis and onset of growth. Amino acid analysis and N-terminal sequence analysis indicated that the bacterial MTs from cyanobacteria are unique, having many aromatic and aliphatic residues and no apparent association of hydroxylated or basic amino acids with cysteines.
- Research Organization:
- Univ. of Victoria, British Columbia
- OSTI ID:
- 5493877
- Journal Information:
- Environ. Health Perspect.; (United States), Journal Name: Environ. Health Perspect.; (United States) Vol. 65; ISSN EVHPA
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
560302* -- Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology-- Microorganisms-- (-1987)
59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
BIOSYNTHESIS
CADMIUM COMPOUNDS
CHROMATOGRAPHY
CYANOBACTERIA
LIQUID COLUMN CHROMATOGRAPHY
METALLOPROTEINS
METALLOTHIONEIN
MICROORGANISMS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
PHYSIOLOGY
POLAROGRAPHY
PROTEINS
SEPARATION PROCESSES
SYNTHESIS
ZINC COMPOUNDS