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Degradation of cadmium-thionein in rat liver and kidney

Journal Article · · J. Toxicol. Environ. Health; (United States)
(/sup 3/H)Cystine and /sup 115m/Cd were incorporated into hepatic and renal Cd-thionein in response to sc administration of 4.4 ..mu..mol of Cd/sup 2 +/ containing /sup 115m/Cd. Cd-thionein-bound /sup 115m/Cd reached a plateau by 24 and 72 h after the Cd/sup 2 +/ injection in liver and kidney, respectively. The half-life (t/sub 1/2/) of /sup 3/H-labeled hepatic Cd-thionein was 3.5 d, whereas the average t/sub 1/2/ of the soluble proteins was 3.7d. The t/sub 1/2/ of /sup 3/H-labeled renal Cd-thionein was 3.7d, whereas the average t/sub 1/2/ of the renal proteins was 3.8 d. In marked contrast, the /sup 115m/Cd content of both hepatic and renal Cd-thionein was virtually unchanged, even 9 d after administration of this radionuclide. These data indicate that the protein moiety of metallothionein is degraded, although there appears to be a concomitant rebinding of Cd/sup 2 +/ to nascent thionein polypeptide chains. Thus the lack of metallothionein degradation per se does not account for the long-term retention of Cd/sup 2 +/ in liver and kdney during chronic exposure.
Research Organization:
Rutgers Univ., New Brunswick, NJ
OSTI ID:
6537884
Journal Information:
J. Toxicol. Environ. Health; (United States), Journal Name: J. Toxicol. Environ. Health; (United States) Vol. 4:5-6; ISSN JTEHD
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

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