ISOLATION AND CHEMICAL CHARACTERIZATION OF THE HEAVY METAL-BINDING PROTEIN METALLOTHIONEIN FROM MARINE-INVERTEBRATES

1. 1. The heavy metal-binding protein metallothionein has been isolated from the crab Scylla serrata and its amino acid composition determined. 2. 2. Crustacean metallothionein was shown to be markedly similar to vertebrate metallothioneins on comparison of molecular weights, u.v. absorption spectra, isoelectric points and amino acid compositions. 3. 3. Two major isoproteins were isolated indicating conservation of an apparent gene duplication throughout the course of molecular evolution. 4. 4. Metallothionein-like cadmium-binding proteins were also shown to exist in the crab Cancer magister, the planktonic sergestid shrimp Acetes sibogae and the chilton Cryptochiton stelleri. © 1979.