Metallothionein-like proteins and zinc--copper interaction in the hindgut of Porcellio scaber (Crustacea: Isopoda) exposed to zinc

Metallothioneins (MTs) are ubiquitous low-molecular-weight metal-binding proteins, with a variety of functions in metal metabolism ascribed to them. Among terrestrial invertebrates, MTs have been studied in nematodes, insects, snails, and earthworms. The aim of this study was the characterization of...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Biological trace element research 2005-09, Vol.106 (3), p.253-264
Main Authors: Znidarsic, N, Tusek-Znidaric, M, Falnoga, I, Scancar, J, Strus, J
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Absorbance
Animal Feed
Animals
Copper
Copper - metabolism
Crustacea
Crustaceans
Cytosol
Dietary supplements
Digestive System
Filtration
Food
Heavy metals
Hindgut
Isopoda
Isopoda - physiology
Liquid chromatography
Metabolism
Metallothionein
Metallothionein - analysis
Metallothionein - physiology
Metallothioneins
Nematoda
Porcellio scaber
Proteins
Scab
Zinc
Zinc - pharmacokinetics
Zinc - pharmacology
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Summary:Metallothioneins (MTs) are ubiquitous low-molecular-weight metal-binding proteins, with a variety of functions in metal metabolism ascribed to them. Among terrestrial invertebrates, MTs have been studied in nematodes, insects, snails, and earthworms. The aim of this study was the characterization of MT-like proteins in the terrestrial isopod crustacean Porcellio scaber in order to analyze their probable role in the metabolism of copper (Cu) and zinc (Zn). Dietary Zn supplementation (793 microg Zn/g dry food, 6 d) was applied to stimulate MT synthesis. After separation of the hindgut post-microsomic supernatant (cytosol) of Zn-exposed animals by gel filtration on a Sephadex G-75 column, a Cu- and Zn-containing peak was detected in the position of Ve/Vo approximately 2, where MTs are expected to elute. Rechromatography of these fractions by size-exclusion chromatography-high-performance liquid chromatography revealed that the 215-nm absorbance peak coincided with the absorbance peak of the rabbit MT II standard. These low-molecular-weight Cu- and Zn-binding compounds, detected in the cytosol of the hindgut cells in Zn-exposed P. scaber, are considered to be Cu, Zn-MT-like proteins. To our knowledge, this is the first report on the characterization of MT-like proteins in isopod crustaceans. These results also indicate that both Zn and Cu dynamics in P. scaber hindgut are affected at the given dietary Zn supplementation and that MT-like proteins are involved in this Zn-Cu interaction.
ISSN:0163-4984
0163-4984
1559-0720
DOI:10.1385/BTER:106:3:253