Isolation of metallothionein-like cDNA clone from buckwheat

We have isolated cDNA clone pBM 290 from the cDNA library of developing buckwheat seed, encoding a 59-amino-acid-long metallothionein-like (MT-like) protein. Two domains with abundant cysteine residues, characteristic for the type of MT, showed the highest homology with the MT3 protein from Arabidopsis and with deduced amino acid sequences of a few cDNA clones for MT-like proteins from ripening fruits. The expression of buckwheat MT mRNA was not specific for seeds.