Solution Structure of MT_nc, a Novel Metallothionein from the Antarctic Fish Notothenia coriiceps.
Capasso, C., Carginale, V., Crescenzi, O., Di Maro, D., Parisi, E., Spadaccini, R., Temussi, P.A.(2003) Structure 11: 435-443
- PubMed: 12679021 
- DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/s0969-2126(03)00044-3
- Primary Citation of Related Structures:  
1M0G, 1M0J - PubMed Abstract: 
The structure of [113Cd(7)]-metallothionein (MT_nc) of the Antarctic fish Notothenia coriiceps, the first three-dimensional structure of a fish metallothionein, was determined by homonuclear 1H NMR experiments and heteronuclear [1H, 113Cd]-correlation spectroscopy. MT_nc is composed of an N-terminal beta domain with 9 cysteines and 3 metal ions and a carboxy-terminal alpha-domain with 11 cysteines and 4 metal ions. The position of the ninth Cys of the alpha domain of MT_nc is different from the corresponding Cys of mammalian MTs. As a result, the last CXCC motif in the mammalian MT sequence becomes CXXXCC in the fish MT. This difference leads to a structural change of the alpha domain and, in turn, to a different charge distribution with respect to that observed in mammalian metallothioneins.
Organizational Affiliation: 
CNR, Institute of Protein Biochemistry, via Marconi 10, I 80125, Naples, Italy.