The major function of a metallothionein from the aquatic fungus Heliscus lugdunensis is cadmium detoxification.

The major function of a metallothionein from the aquatic fungus Heliscus lugdunensis is cadmium detoxification.
J Inorg Biochem. 2013 Jun 7;
Authors: Loebus J, Leitenmaier B, Meissner D, Braha B, Krauss GJ, Dobritzsch D, Freisinger E
Abstract
A spring from a former copper shale mine in the area of Mansfelder Land, Germany, shows extremely high transition metal ion concentrations, i.e. 40mM Zn(II), 208μM Cu(II), 61μM As(V), and 25μM Cd(II). This makes it a challenging habitat for living organisms as they have to cope with metal ion concentrations that by far exceed the values usually observed in spring water. One of the surviving species found is the aquatic fungus Heliscus lugdunensis (teleomorph: Nectria lugdunensis). Investigation of its redox related heavy metal tolerance revealed the presence of small thiol containing compounds as well as a small metallothionein, Neclu_MT1 (MT1_NECLU: P84865). While Cd(II)-induction of metallothioneins is observed in many species, the fact that exclusively Cd(II), but not Zn(II), Cu(I), As(III) or oxidative stress can induce Neclu_MT1 protein synthesis is unparalleled. To complement the physiological studies performed in the fungus H. lugdunensis, the Cd(II) and Zn(II) binding characteristics of the recombinantly expressed protein were spectroscopically analysed in vitro aiming to demonstrate the observed Cd(II) specificity also on the protein level. Stoichiometric analyses of the recombinant protein in...

Source: Journal of Inorganic Biochemistry - June 7, 2013 Category: Biochemistry Authors: Loebus J, Leitenmaier B, Meissner D, Braha B, Krauss GJ, Dobritzsch D, Freisinger E Tags: J Inorg Biochem Source Type: research