1
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Yang H, Zhao Z, Li H, Wang L. Metal binding feature of copper‒induced metallothionein from freshwater crab Sinopotamon henanense reveals its Cu‒thionein character. Protein Expr Purif 2024; 221:106519. [PMID: 38830441 DOI: 10.1016/j.pep.2024.106519] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2024] [Revised: 05/24/2024] [Accepted: 05/30/2024] [Indexed: 06/05/2024]
Abstract
Sinopotamon Henanense expresses two metal‒induced metallothioneins (MTs), Cd‒induced MT and Cu‒induced MT (ShCuMT). The Cd‒induced MT has been characterized as a Cd‒thiolate MT. However, it is unknown whether ShCuMT is a Cu‒thiolate MT. In the present study, ShCuMT was expressed heterologously in Escherichia coli and purified by Ni‒NTA column and superdex‒75 column. And its metal‒binding feature was evaluated by DTNB reaction, circular dichroism spectroscopy (CD), isothermal microtitration (ITC), electrospray flight mass spectrometry (ESI‒TOF‒MS), and matrix‒assisted laser desorption ionization flight mass spectrometry (MALDI‒TOF‒MS). Bioinformatics analysis demonstrated that ShCuMT possessed the cysteine‒triplet motif of a Cu‒specific MT. Expression and purification of ShCuMT illustrated that SUMO tag used as the production system for ShCuMT resulted in a high production yield. The stability order of ShCuMT binding metal ions were Cu (Ⅰ) > Cd (Ⅱ) > Zn (Ⅱ). The CD spectrum indicated that ShCuMT binding with Cu (I) exhibited a compact thiol metal clusters structure. Besides, there emerged no a visible nickel‒thiol absorption after Ni‒NTA column affinity chromatography. The ITC results implied that Cu‒ShCuMT possessed the optimal thermodynamic conformation and the highest stoichiometric number of Cu (Ⅰ). Overall, the results suggested that SUMO fusion system is a robust and inexpensive approach for ShCuMT expression and Ni‒NTA column had no influence on metal binding of ShCuMT and Cu(Ⅰ) was considered its cognate metal ion, and ShCuMT possessed canonical Cu‒thiolate characteristics. The metal binding feature of ShCuMT reported here contributes to elucidating the structure‒function relationship of ShCuMT in S. Henanense.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huizhen Yang
- Shanxi Key Laboratory for Modernization of TCVM/ College of Veterinary Medicine, Shanxi Agriculture University, Jinzhong, Shanxi Province, 030800, China.
| | - Ziyan Zhao
- Shanxi Key Laboratory for Modernization of TCVM/ College of Veterinary Medicine, Shanxi Agriculture University, Jinzhong, Shanxi Province, 030800, China
| | - Hongquan Li
- Shanxi Key Laboratory for Modernization of TCVM/ College of Veterinary Medicine, Shanxi Agriculture University, Jinzhong, Shanxi Province, 030800, China.
| | - Lan Wang
- School of Life Science, Shanxi University, Taiyuan, Shanxi Province, 030006, China.
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2
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Peris-Díaz MD, Orzeł A, Wu S, Mosna K, Barran PE, Krężel A. Combining Native Mass Spectrometry and Proteomics to Differentiate and Map the Metalloform Landscape in Metallothioneins. J Proteome Res 2024. [PMID: 38993068 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jproteome.4c00271] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/13/2024]
Abstract
Within the intricate landscape of the proteome, approximately 30% of all proteins bind metal ions. This repertoire is even larger when considering all the different forms of a protein, known as proteoforms. Here, we propose the term "metalloforms" to refer to different structural or functional variations of a protein resulting from the binding of various hetero- or homogeneous metal ions. Using human Cu(I)/Zn(II)-metallothionein-3 as a representative model, we developed a chemical proteomics strategy to simultaneously differentiate and map Zn(II) and Cu(I) metal binding sites. In the first labeling step, N-ethylmaleimide reacts with Cysteine (Cys), resulting in the dissociation of all Zn(II) ions while Cu(I) remains bound to the protein. In the second labeling step, iodoacetamide is utilized to label Cu(I)-bound Cys residues. Native mass spectrometry (MS) was used to determine the metal/labeling protein stoichiometries, while bottom-up/top-down MS was used to map the Cys-labeled residues. Next, we used a developed methodology to interrogate an isolated rabbit liver metallothionein fraction containing three metallothionein-2 isoforms and multiple Cd(II)/Zn(II) metalloforms. The approach detailed in this study thus holds the potential to decode the metalloproteoform diversity within other proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manuel David Peris-Díaz
- Department of Chemical Biology, Faculty of Biotechnology, University of Wrocław, F. Joliot-Curie 14a, Wrocław 50-383, Poland
- Michael Barber Centre for Collaborative Mass Spectrometry, Manchester Institute of Biotechnology, 131 Princess Street, Manchester M1 7DN, U.K
| | - Alicja Orzeł
- Department of Chemical Biology, Faculty of Biotechnology, University of Wrocław, F. Joliot-Curie 14a, Wrocław 50-383, Poland
| | - Sylwia Wu
- Department of Chemical Biology, Faculty of Biotechnology, University of Wrocław, F. Joliot-Curie 14a, Wrocław 50-383, Poland
| | - Karolina Mosna
- Department of Chemical Biology, Faculty of Biotechnology, University of Wrocław, F. Joliot-Curie 14a, Wrocław 50-383, Poland
| | - Perdita E Barran
- Michael Barber Centre for Collaborative Mass Spectrometry, Manchester Institute of Biotechnology, 131 Princess Street, Manchester M1 7DN, U.K
| | - Artur Krężel
- Department of Chemical Biology, Faculty of Biotechnology, University of Wrocław, F. Joliot-Curie 14a, Wrocław 50-383, Poland
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3
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Melenbacher A, Stillman MJ. ESI-MS analysis of Cu(I) binding to apo and Zn7 human metallothionein 1A, 2, and 3 identifies the formation of a similar series of metallated species with no individual isoform optimization for Cu(I). Metallomics 2024; 16:mfae015. [PMID: 38503570 PMCID: PMC11004924 DOI: 10.1093/mtomcs/mfae015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2023] [Accepted: 03/09/2024] [Indexed: 03/21/2024]
Abstract
Metallothioneins (MTs) are cysteine-rich proteins involved in metal homeostasis, heavy metal detoxification, and protection against oxidative stress. Whether the four mammalian MT isoforms exhibit different metal binding properties is not clear. In this paper, the Cu(I) binding properties of the apo MT1A, apo MT2, and apo MT3 are compared and the relative Cu(I) binding affinities are reported. In all three isoforms, Cu4, Cu6, and Cu10 species form cooperatively, and MT1A and MT2 also form a Cu13 species. The Cu(I) binding properties of Zn7-MT1A, Zn7-MT2, and Zn7-MT3 are compared systematically using isotopically pure 63Cu(I) and 68Zn(II). The species formed in each MT isoform were detected through electrospray ionization-mass spectrometry and further characterized using room temperature phosphorescence spectroscopy. The mixed metal Cu, Zn species forming in MT1A, MT2, and MT3 have similar stoichiometries and their emission spectral properties indicate that analogous clusters form in the three isoforms. Three parallel metallation pathways have been proposed through analysis of the detailed Cu, Zn speciation in MT1A, MT2, and MT3. Pathway ① results in Cu5Zn5-MT and Cu9Zn3-MT. Pathway ② involves Cu6Zn4-MT and Cu10Zn2-MT. Pathway ③ includes Cu8Zn4-MT. Speciation analysis indicates that Pathway ② is the preferred pathway for MT2. This is also evident in the phosphorescence spectra with the 750 nm emission from Cu6Zn4-MT being most prominent in MT2. We see no evidence for different MT isoforms being optimized or exhibiting preferences for certain metals. We discuss the probable stoichiometry for MTs in vivo based on the in vitro determined binding constants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adyn Melenbacher
- Department of Chemistry, The University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario N6A 5B7, Canada
| | - Martin J Stillman
- Department of Chemistry, The University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario N6A 5B7, Canada
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4
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Gale JR, Hartnett-Scott K, Ross MM, Rosenberg PA, Aizenman E. Copper induces neuron-sparing, ferredoxin 1-independent astrocyte toxicity mediated by oxidative stress. J Neurochem 2023; 167:277-295. [PMID: 37702109 PMCID: PMC10591933 DOI: 10.1111/jnc.15961] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2023] [Revised: 08/28/2023] [Accepted: 08/29/2023] [Indexed: 09/14/2023]
Abstract
Copper is an essential enzyme cofactor in oxidative metabolism, anti-oxidant defenses, and neurotransmitter synthesis. However, intracellular copper, when improperly buffered, can also lead to cell death. Given the growing interest in the use of copper in the presence of the ionophore elesclomol (CuES) for the treatment of gliomas, we investigated the effect of this compound on the surround parenchyma-namely neurons and astrocytes in vitro. Here, we show that astrocytes were highly sensitive to CuES toxicity while neurons were surprisingly resistant, a vulnerability profile that is opposite of what has been described for zinc and other toxins. Bolstering these findings, a human astrocytic cell line was similarly sensitive to CuES. Modifications of cellular metabolic pathways implicated in cuproptosis, a form of copper-regulated cell death, such as inhibition of mitochondrial respiration or knock-down of ferredoxin 1 (FDX1), did not block CuES toxicity to astrocytes. CuES toxicity was also unaffected by inhibitors of apoptosis, necrosis or ferroptosis. However, we did detect the presence of lipid peroxidation products in CuES-treated astrocytes, indicating that oxidative stress is a mediator of CuES-induced glial toxicity. Indeed, treatment with anti-oxidants mitigated CuES-induced cell death in astrocytes indicating that oxidative stress is a mediator of CuES-induced glial toxicity. Lastly, prior induction of metallothioneins 1 and 2 in astrocytes with zinc plus pyrithione was strikingly protective against CuES toxicity. As neurons express high levels of metallothioneins basally, these results may partially account for their resistance to CuES toxicity. These results demonstrate a unique toxic response to copper in glial cells which contrasts with the cell selectivity profile of zinc, another biologically relevant metal.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jenna R. Gale
- Department of Neurobiology and Pittsburgh Institute for Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States, 15213
| | - Karen Hartnett-Scott
- Department of Neurobiology and Pittsburgh Institute for Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States, 15213
| | - Madeline M. Ross
- Department of Neurobiology and Pittsburgh Institute for Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States, 15213
| | - Paul A. Rosenberg
- Department of Neurology and the F.M. Kirby Neurobiology Center, Boston Children’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, United States, 02115
| | - Elias Aizenman
- Department of Neurobiology and Pittsburgh Institute for Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States, 15213
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5
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Melenbacher A, Stillman MJ. Metallothionein-3: 63 Cu(I) binds to human 68 Zn 7 -βα MT3 with no preference for Cu 4 -β cluster formation. FEBS J 2023; 290:4316-4341. [PMID: 37165729 DOI: 10.1111/febs.16812] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2023] [Revised: 04/25/2023] [Accepted: 05/09/2023] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
Abstract
Human metallothioneins (MTs) are involved in binding the essential elements, Cu(I) and Zn(II), and the toxic element, Cd(II), in metal-thiolate clusters using 20 reduced cysteines. The brain-specific MT3 binds a mixture of Cu(I) and Zn(II) in vivo. Its metallation properties are critically important because of potential connections between Cu, Zn and neurodegenerative diseases. We report that the use of isotopically pure 63 Cu(I) and 68 Zn(II) greatly enhances the element resolution in the ESI-mass spectral data revealing species with differing Cu:Zn ratios but the same total number of metals. Room temperature phosphorescence and circular dichroism spectral data measured in parallel with ESI-mass spectral data identified the presence of specific Cu(I)-thiolate clusters in the presence of Zn(II). A series of Cu(I)-thiolate clusters form following Cu(I) addition to apo MT3: the two main clusters that form are a Cu6 cluster in the β domain followed by a Cu4 cluster in the α domain. 63 Cu(I) addition to 68 Zn7 -MT3 results in multiple species, including clustered Cu5 Zn5 -MT3 and Cu9 Zn3 -MT3. We assign the domain location of the metals for Cu5 Zn5 -MT3 as a Cu5 Zn1 -β cluster and a Zn4 -α cluster and for Cu9 Zn3 -MT3 as a Cu6 -β cluster and a Cu3 Zn3 -α cluster. While many reports of the average MT3 metal content exist, determining the exact Cu,Zn stoichiometry has proven very difficult even with native ESI-MS. The work in this paper solves the ambiguity introduced by the overlap of the naturally abundant Cu(I) and Zn(II) isotopes. Contrary to other reports, there is no indication of a major fraction of Cu4 -β-Znn -α-MT3 forming.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adyn Melenbacher
- Department of Chemistry, The University of Western Ontario, London, Canada
| | - Martin J Stillman
- Department of Chemistry, The University of Western Ontario, London, Canada
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6
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Peris-Díaz MD, Wu S, Mosna K, Liggett E, Barkhanskiy A, Orzeł A, Barran P, Krężel A. Structural Characterization of Cu(I)/Zn(II)-metallothionein-3 by Ion Mobility Mass Spectrometry and Top-Down Mass Spectrometry. Anal Chem 2023; 95:10966-10974. [PMID: 37440218 PMCID: PMC10372872 DOI: 10.1021/acs.analchem.3c00989] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2023] [Accepted: 06/29/2023] [Indexed: 07/14/2023]
Abstract
Mammalian zinc metallothionein-3 (Zn7MT3) plays an important role in protecting against copper toxicity by scavenging free Cu(II) ions or removing Cu(II) bound to β-amyloid and α-synuclein. While previous studies reported that Zn7MT3 reacts with Cu(II) ions to form Cu(I)4Zn(II)4MT3ox containing two disulfides (ox), the precise localization of the metal ions and disulfides remained unclear. Here, we undertook comprehensive structural characterization of the metal-protein complexes formed by the reaction between Zn7MT3 and Cu(II) ions using native ion mobility mass spectrometry (IM-MS). The complex formation mechanism was found to involve the disassembly of Zn3S9 and Zn4S11 clusters from Zn7MT3 and reassembly into Cu(I)xZn(II)yMT3ox complexes rather than simply Zn(II)-to-Cu(I) exchange. At neutral pH, the β-domain was shown to be capable of binding up to six Cu(I) ions to form Cu(I)6Zn(II)4MT3ox, although the most predominant species was the Cu(I)4Zn(II)4MT3ox complex. Under acidic conditions, four Zn(II) ions dissociate, but the Cu(I)4-thiolate cluster remains stable, highlighting the MT3 role as a Cu(II) scavenger even at lower than the cytosolic pH. IM-derived collision cross sections (CCS) reveal that Cu(I)-to-Zn(II) swap in Zn7MT3 with concomitant disulfide formation induces structural compaction and a decrease in conformational heterogeneity. Collision-induced unfolding (CIU) experiments estimated that the native-like folded Cu(I)4Zn(II)4MT3ox conformation is more stable than Zn7MT3. Native top-down MS demonstrated that the Cu(I) ions are exclusively bound to the β-domain in the Cu(I)4Zn(II)4MT3ox complex as well as the two disulfides, serving as a steric constraint for the Cu(I)4-thiolate cluster. In conclusion, this study enhances our comprehension of the structure, stability, and dynamics of Cu(I)xZn(II)yMT3ox complexes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manuel David Peris-Díaz
- Department
of Chemical Biology, Faculty of Biotechnology, University of Wrocław, F. Joliot-Curie 14a, 50-383 Wrocław, Poland
- Michael
Barber Centre for Collaborative Mass Spectrometry, Manchester Institute of Biotechnology, 131 Princess Street, Manchester M1 7DN, United
Kingdom
| | - Sylwia Wu
- Department
of Chemical Biology, Faculty of Biotechnology, University of Wrocław, F. Joliot-Curie 14a, 50-383 Wrocław, Poland
| | - Karolina Mosna
- Department
of Chemical Biology, Faculty of Biotechnology, University of Wrocław, F. Joliot-Curie 14a, 50-383 Wrocław, Poland
| | - Ellen Liggett
- Michael
Barber Centre for Collaborative Mass Spectrometry, Manchester Institute of Biotechnology, 131 Princess Street, Manchester M1 7DN, United
Kingdom
| | - Alexey Barkhanskiy
- Michael
Barber Centre for Collaborative Mass Spectrometry, Manchester Institute of Biotechnology, 131 Princess Street, Manchester M1 7DN, United
Kingdom
| | - Alicja Orzeł
- Department
of Chemical Biology, Faculty of Biotechnology, University of Wrocław, F. Joliot-Curie 14a, 50-383 Wrocław, Poland
| | - Perdita Barran
- Michael
Barber Centre for Collaborative Mass Spectrometry, Manchester Institute of Biotechnology, 131 Princess Street, Manchester M1 7DN, United
Kingdom
| | - Artur Krężel
- Department
of Chemical Biology, Faculty of Biotechnology, University of Wrocław, F. Joliot-Curie 14a, 50-383 Wrocław, Poland
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7
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Lakha R, Hachicho C, Mehlenbacher MR, Wilcox DE, Austin RN, Vizcarra CL. Metallothionein-3 attenuates the effect of Cu 2+ ions on actin filaments. J Inorg Biochem 2023; 242:112157. [PMID: 36801620 DOI: 10.1016/j.jinorgbio.2023.112157] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2022] [Revised: 02/01/2023] [Accepted: 02/02/2023] [Indexed: 02/10/2023]
Abstract
Metallothionein 3 (MT-3) is a cysteine-rich metal-binding protein that is expressed in the mammalian central nervous system and kidney. Various reports have posited a role for MT-3 in regulating the actin cytoskeleton by promoting the assembly of actin filaments. We generated purified, recombinant mouse MT-3 of known metal compositions, either with zinc (Zn), lead (Pb), or copper/zinc (Cu/Zn) bound. None of these forms of MT-3 accelerated actin filament polymerization in vitro, either with or without the actin binding protein profilin. Furthermore, using a co-sedimentation assay, we did not observe Zn-bound MT-3 in complex with actin filaments. Cu2+ ions on their own induced rapid actin polymerization, an effect that we attribute to filament fragmentation. This effect of Cu2+ is reversed by adding either EGTA or Zn-bound MT-3, indicating that either molecule can chelate Cu2+ from actin. Altogether, our data indicate that purified recombinant MT-3 does not directly bind actin but it does attenuate the Cu-induced fragmentation of actin filaments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rabina Lakha
- Department of Chemistry, Barnard College, New York, NY 10027, USA
| | - Carla Hachicho
- Department of Chemistry, Barnard College, New York, NY 10027, USA
| | | | - Dean E Wilcox
- Department of Chemistry, Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH 03755, USA
| | - Rachel N Austin
- Department of Chemistry, Barnard College, New York, NY 10027, USA
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8
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García-Risco M, González A, Calatayud S, Lopez-Jaramillo FJ, Pedrini-Martha V, Albalat R, Dallinger R, Dominguez-Vera JM, Palacios Ò, Capdevila M. Metal-dependent glycosylation in recombinant metallothioneins. Chem Commun (Camb) 2022; 58:13755-13758. [PMID: 36416731 DOI: 10.1039/d2cc05589a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
We show for the first time glycosylation of recombinant metallothioneins (MTs) produced in E. coli. Interestingly, our results show that the glycosylation level of the recombinant MTs is inversely proportional to the degree of protein structuration, and reflects their different metal preferences.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mario García-Risco
- Department of Chemistry, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Cerdanyola del Vallès (E-08193), Spain.
| | - Ana González
- Department of Inorganic Chemistry and Biotechnology Institute, University of Granada, Granada (E-18071), Spain.
| | - Sara Calatayud
- Department of Genetics, Microbiology and Statistics, University of Barcelona, Barcelona (E-08028), Spain
| | - Francisco J Lopez-Jaramillo
- Department of Organic Chemistry and Biotechnology Institute, University of Granada, Granada (E-18071), Spain
| | - Veronika Pedrini-Martha
- Institute of Zoology and Center of Molecular Biosciences, University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck (A-60210), Austria
| | - Ricard Albalat
- Department of Genetics, Microbiology and Statistics, University of Barcelona, Barcelona (E-08028), Spain.,Institut de Recerca de la Biodiversitat (IRBio), Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona (E-08028), Spain
| | - Reinhard Dallinger
- Institute of Zoology and Center of Molecular Biosciences, University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck (A-60210), Austria
| | - José M Dominguez-Vera
- Department of Inorganic Chemistry and Biotechnology Institute, University of Granada, Granada (E-18071), Spain.
| | - Òscar Palacios
- Department of Chemistry, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Cerdanyola del Vallès (E-08193), Spain.
| | - Mercè Capdevila
- Department of Chemistry, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Cerdanyola del Vallès (E-08193), Spain.
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9
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Bulathge AW, Villones RLE, Herbert FC, Gassensmith JJ, Meloni G. Comparative cisplatin reactivity towards human Zn7-metallothionein-2 and MTF-1 zinc fingers: potential implications in anticancer drug resistance. Metallomics 2022; 14:mfac061. [PMID: 36026541 PMCID: PMC9477119 DOI: 10.1093/mtomcs/mfac061] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2022] [Accepted: 08/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Abstract
Cis-diamminedichloroplatinum(II) (cisplatin) is a widely used metal-based chemotherapeutic drug for the treatment of cancers. However, intrinsic and acquired drug resistance limit the efficacy of cisplatin-based treatments. Increased production of intracellular thiol-rich molecules, in particular metallothioneins (MTs), which form stable coordination complexes with the electrophilic cisplatin, results in cisplatin sequestration leading to pre-target resistance. MT-1/-2 are overexpressed in cancer cells, and their expression is controlled by the metal response element (MRE)-binding transcription factor-1 (MTF-1), featuring six Cys2His2-type zinc fingers which, upon zinc metalation, recognize specific MRE sequences in the promoter region of MT genes triggering their expression. Cisplatin can efficiently react with protein metal binding sites featuring nucleophilic cysteine and/or histidine residues, including MTs and zinc fingers proteins, but the preferential reactivity towards specific targets with competing binding sites cannot be easily predicted. In this work, by in vitro competition reactions, we investigated the thermodynamic and kinetic preferential reactivity of cisplatin towards human Zn7MT-2, each of the six MTF-1 zinc fingers, and the entire human MTF-1 zinc finger domain. By spectroscopic, spectrometric, and electrophoretic mobility shift assays (EMSA), we demonstrated that cisplatin preferentially reacts with Zn7MT-2 to form Cys4-Pt(II) complexes, resulting in zinc release from MT-2. Zinc transfer from MT-2 to the MTF-1 triggers MTF-1 metalation, activation, and binding to target MRE sequences, as demonstrated by EMSA with DNA oligonucleotides. The cisplatin-dependent MT-mediated MTF-1 activation leading to apo-MT overexpression potentially establishes one of the molecular mechanisms underlying the development and potentiation of MT-mediated pre-target resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anjala W Bulathge
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, The University of Texas at Dallas, 800 W Campbell Rd., Richardson, TX-75080, USA
| | - Rhiza Lyne E Villones
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, The University of Texas at Dallas, 800 W Campbell Rd., Richardson, TX-75080, USA
| | - Fabian C Herbert
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, The University of Texas at Dallas, 800 W Campbell Rd., Richardson, TX-75080, USA
| | - Jeremiah J Gassensmith
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, The University of Texas at Dallas, 800 W Campbell Rd., Richardson, TX-75080, USA
| | - Gabriele Meloni
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, The University of Texas at Dallas, 800 W Campbell Rd., Richardson, TX-75080, USA
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10
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Reaction of N-Acetylcysteine with Cu 2+: Appearance of Intermediates with High Free Radical Scavenging Activity: Implications for Anti-/Pro-Oxidant Properties of Thiols. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23116199. [PMID: 35682881 PMCID: PMC9181168 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23116199] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2022] [Revised: 05/27/2022] [Accepted: 05/30/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
We studied the kinetics of the reaction of N-acetyl-l-cysteine (NAC or RSH) with cupric ions at an equimolar ratio of the reactants in aqueous acid solution (pH 1.4−2) using UV/Vis absorption and circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopies. Cu2+ showed a strong catalytic effect on the 2,2′-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonate) radical (ABTSr) consumption and autoxidation of NAC. Difference spectra revealed the formation of intermediates with absorption maxima at 233 and 302 nm (ε302/Cu > 8 × 103 M−1 cm−1) and two positive Cotton effects centered at 284 and 302 nm. These intermediates accumulate during the first, O2-independent, phase of the NAC autoxidation. The autocatalytic production of another chiral intermediate, characterized by two positive Cotton effects at 280 and 333 nm and an intense negative one at 305 nm, was observed in the second reaction phase. The intermediates are rapidly oxidized by added ABTSr; otherwise, they are stable for hours in the reaction solution, undergoing a slow pH- and O2-dependent photosensitive decay. The kinetic and spectral data are consistent with proposed structures of the intermediates as disulfide-bridged dicopper(I) complexes of types cis-/trans-CuI2(RS)2(RSSR) and CuI2(RSSR)2. The electronic transitions observed in the UV/Vis and CD spectra are tentatively attributed to Cu(I) → disulfide charge transfer with an interaction of the transition dipole moments (exciton coupling). The catalytic activity of the intermediates as potential O2 activators via Cu(II) peroxo-complexes is discussed. A mechanism for autocatalytic oxidation of Cu(I)−thiolates promoted by a growing electronically coupled −[CuI2(RSSR)]n− polymer is suggested. The obtained results are in line with other reported observations regarding copper-catalyzed autoxidation of thiols and provide new insight into these complicated, not yet fully understood systems. The proposed hypotheses point to the importance of the Cu(I)−disulfide interaction, which may have a profound impact on biological systems.
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11
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Mehlenbacher MR, Elsiesy R, Lakha R, Villones RLE, Orman M, Vizcarra CL, Meloni G, Wilcox DE, Austin RN. Metal binding and interdomain thermodynamics of mammalian metallothionein-3: enthalpically favoured Cu + supplants entropically favoured Zn 2+ to form Cu 4 + clusters under physiological conditions. Chem Sci 2022; 13:5289-5304. [PMID: 35655557 PMCID: PMC9093145 DOI: 10.1039/d2sc00676f] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2022] [Accepted: 04/01/2022] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Metallothioneins (MTs) are a ubiquitous class of small metal-binding proteins involved in metal homeostasis and detoxification. While known for their high affinity for d10 metal ions, there is a surprising dearth of thermodynamic data on metals binding to MTs. In this study, Zn2+ and Cu+ binding to mammalian metallothionein-3 (MT-3) were quantified at pH 7.4 by isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC). Zn2+ binding was measured by chelation titrations of Zn7MT-3, while Cu+ binding was measured by Zn2+ displacement from Zn7MT-3 with competition from glutathione (GSH). Titrations in multiple buffers enabled a detailed analysis that yielded condition-independent values for the association constant (K) and the change in enthalpy (ΔH) and entropy (ΔS) for these metal ions binding to MT-3. Zn2+ was also chelated from the individual α and β domains of MT-3 to quantify the thermodynamics of inter-domain interactions in metal binding. Comparative titrations of Zn7MT-2 with Cu+ revealed that both MT isoforms have similar Cu+ affinities and binding thermodynamics, indicating that ΔH and ΔS are determined primarily by the conserved Cys residues. Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) analysis and low temperature luminescence measurements of Cu-replete samples showed that both proteins form two Cu4 +-thiolate clusters when Cu+ displaces Zn2+ under physiological conditions. Comparison of the Zn2+ and Cu+ binding thermodynamics reveal that enthalpically-favoured Cu+, which forms Cu4 +-thiolate clusters, displaces the entropically-favoured Zn2+. These results provide a detailed thermodynamic analysis of d10 metal binding to these thiolate-rich proteins and quantitative support for, as well as molecular insight into, the role that MT-3 plays in the neuronal chemistry of copper.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Rahma Elsiesy
- Department of Chemistry, Barnard College of Columbia University New York NY 10027 USA
| | - Rabina Lakha
- Department of Chemistry, Barnard College of Columbia University New York NY 10027 USA
| | - Rhiza Lyne E Villones
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Texas at Dallas Richardson TX 75080 USA
| | - Marina Orman
- Department of Chemistry, Barnard College of Columbia University New York NY 10027 USA
| | - Christina L Vizcarra
- Department of Chemistry, Barnard College of Columbia University New York NY 10027 USA
| | - Gabriele Meloni
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Texas at Dallas Richardson TX 75080 USA
| | - Dean E Wilcox
- Department of Chemistry, Dartmouth College Hanover NH 03755 USA
| | - Rachel N Austin
- Department of Chemistry, Barnard College of Columbia University New York NY 10027 USA
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12
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Abstract
The functions, purposes, and roles of metallothioneins have been the subject of speculations since the discovery of the protein over 60 years ago. This article guides through the history of investigations and resolves multiple contentions by providing new interpretations of the structure-stability-function relationship. It challenges the dogma that the biologically relevant structure of the mammalian proteins is only the one determined by X-ray diffraction and NMR spectroscopy. The terms metallothionein and thionein are ambiguous and insufficient to understand biological function. The proteins need to be seen in their biological context, which limits and defines the chemistry possible. They exist in multiple forms with different degrees of metalation and types of metal ions. The homoleptic thiolate coordination of mammalian metallothioneins is important for their molecular mechanism. It endows the proteins with redox activity and a specific pH dependence of their metal affinities. The proteins, therefore, also exist in different redox states of the sulfur donor ligands. Their coordination dynamics allows a vast conformational landscape for interactions with other proteins and ligands. Many fundamental signal transduction pathways regulate the expression of the dozen of human metallothionein genes. Recent advances in understanding the control of cellular zinc and copper homeostasis are the foundation for suggesting that mammalian metallothioneins provide a highly dynamic, regulated, and uniquely biological metal buffer to control the availability, fluctuations, and signaling transients of the most competitive Zn(II) and Cu(I) ions in cellular space and time.
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Affiliation(s)
- Artur Krężel
- Department of Chemical Biology, Faculty of Biotechnology, University of Wrocław, Wrocław 50-383, Poland
| | - Wolfgang Maret
- Departments of Biochemistry and Nutritional Sciences, School of Life Course Sciences, Faculty of Life Sciences and Medicine, King's College London, London SE1 9NH, U.K
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13
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Yuan G, Curtolo F, Deng Y, Wu T, Tian F, Ma Q, Liu Y, Zuo J, Arantes GM, Zheng P. Highly Dynamic Polynuclear Metal Cluster Revealed in a Single Metallothionein Molecule. RESEARCH 2021; 2021:9756945. [PMID: 34368766 PMCID: PMC8299258 DOI: 10.34133/2021/9756945] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2021] [Accepted: 06/04/2021] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
Human metallothionein (MT) is a small-size yet efficient metal-binding protein, playing an essential role in metal homeostasis and heavy metal detoxification. MT contains two domains, each forming a polynuclear metal cluster with an exquisite hexatomic ring structure. The apoprotein is intrinsically disordered, which may strongly influence the clusters and the metal-thiolate (M-S) bonds, leading to a highly dynamic structure. However, these features are challenging to identify due to the transient nature of these species. The individual signal from dynamic conformations with different states of the cluster and M-S bond will be averaged and blurred in classic ensemble measurement. To circumvent these problems, we combined a single-molecule approach and multiscale molecular simulations to investigate the rupture mechanism and chemical stability of the metal cluster by a single MT molecule, focusing on the Zn4S11 cluster in the α domain upon unfolding. Unusual multiple unfolding pathways and intermediates are observed for both domains, corresponding to different combinations of M-S bond rupture. None of the pathways is clearly preferred suggesting that unfolding proceeds from the distribution of protein conformational substates with similar M-S bond strengths. Simulations indicate that the metal cluster may rearrange, forming and breaking metal-thiolate bonds even when MT is folded independently of large protein backbone reconfiguration. Thus, a highly dynamic polynuclear metal cluster with multiple conformational states is revealed in MT, responsible for the binding promiscuity and diverse cellular functions of this metal-carrier protein.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guodong Yuan
- State Key Laboratory of Coordination Chemistry, Chemistry and Biomedicine Innovation Center (ChemBIC), School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Nanjing University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210023, China
| | - Felipe Curtolo
- Department of Biochemistry, Instituto de Química, Universidade de São Paulo, Av. Prof. Lineu Prestes 748, 05508-900 São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Yibing Deng
- State Key Laboratory of Coordination Chemistry, Chemistry and Biomedicine Innovation Center (ChemBIC), School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Nanjing University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210023, China
| | - Tao Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Coordination Chemistry, Chemistry and Biomedicine Innovation Center (ChemBIC), School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Nanjing University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210023, China
| | - Fang Tian
- State Key Laboratory of Coordination Chemistry, Chemistry and Biomedicine Innovation Center (ChemBIC), School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Nanjing University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210023, China
| | - Qun Ma
- State Key Laboratory of Coordination Chemistry, Chemistry and Biomedicine Innovation Center (ChemBIC), School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Nanjing University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210023, China
| | - Yutong Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Coordination Chemistry, Chemistry and Biomedicine Innovation Center (ChemBIC), School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Nanjing University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210023, China
| | - Jinglin Zuo
- State Key Laboratory of Coordination Chemistry, Chemistry and Biomedicine Innovation Center (ChemBIC), School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Nanjing University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210023, China
| | - Guilherme Menegon Arantes
- Department of Biochemistry, Instituto de Química, Universidade de São Paulo, Av. Prof. Lineu Prestes 748, 05508-900 São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Peng Zheng
- State Key Laboratory of Coordination Chemistry, Chemistry and Biomedicine Innovation Center (ChemBIC), School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Nanjing University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210023, China
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14
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Calvo JS, Mulpuri NV, Dao A, Qazi NK, Meloni G. Membrane insertion exacerbates the α-Synuclein-Cu(II) dopamine oxidase activity: Metallothionein-3 targets and silences all α-synuclein-Cu(II) complexes. Free Radic Biol Med 2020; 158:149-161. [PMID: 32712192 PMCID: PMC7484060 DOI: 10.1016/j.freeradbiomed.2020.07.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2020] [Revised: 07/03/2020] [Accepted: 07/05/2020] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
Copper binding to α-synuclein (α-Syn), the major component of intracellular Lewy body inclusions in substantia nigra dopaminergic neurons, potentiate its toxic redox-reactivity and plays a detrimental role in the etiology of Parkinson disease (PD). Soluble α-synuclein-Cu(II) complexes possess dopamine oxidase activity and catalyze ROS production in the presence of biological reducing agents via Cu(II)/Cu(I) redox cycling. These metal-centered redox reactivities harmfully promote the oxidation and oligomerization of α-Syn. While this chemistry has been investigated on recombinantly expressed soluble α-Syn, in vivo, α-Syn is acetylated at its N-terminus and is present in equilibrium between soluble and membrane-bound forms. This post-translational modification and membrane-binding alter the Cu(II) coordination environment and binding modes and are expected to affect the α-Syn-Cu(II) reactivity. In this work, we first investigated the reactivity of acetylated and membrane-bound complexes, and subsequently addressed whether the brain metalloprotein Zn7-metallothionein-3 (Zn7MT-3) possesses a multifaceted-role in targeting these aberrant copper interactions and consequent reactivity. Through biochemical characterization of the reactivity of the non-acetylated/N-terminally acetylated soluble or membrane-bound α-Syn-Cu(II) complexes towards dopamine, oxygen, and ascorbate, we reveal that membrane insertion dramatically exacerbates the catechol oxidase-like reactivity of α-Syn-Cu(II) as a result of a change in the Cu(II) coordination environment, thereby potentiating its toxicity. Moreover, we show that Zn7MT-3 can efficiently target all α-Syn-Cu(II) complexes through Cu(II) removal, preventing their deleterious redox activities. We demonstrate that the Cu(II) reduction by the thiolate ligands of Zn7MT-3 and the formation of Cu(I)4Zn4MT-3 featuring an unusual redox-inert Cu(I)4-thiolate cluster is the molecular mechanism responsible for the protective effect exerted by MT-3 towards α-Syn-Cu(II). This work provides the molecular basis for new therapeutic interventions to control the deleterious bioinorganic chemistry of α-Syn-Cu(II).
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Affiliation(s)
- Jenifer S Calvo
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, The University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, TX, 75080, USA
| | - Neha V Mulpuri
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, The University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, TX, 75080, USA
| | - Alex Dao
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, The University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, TX, 75080, USA
| | - Nabeeha K Qazi
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, The University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, TX, 75080, USA
| | - Gabriele Meloni
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, The University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, TX, 75080, USA.
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15
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Santoro A, Calvo JS, Peris-Díaz MD, Krężel A, Meloni G, Faller P. The Glutathione/Metallothionein System Challenges the Design of Efficient O 2 -Activating Copper Complexes. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2020; 59:7830-7835. [PMID: 32049413 PMCID: PMC7294961 DOI: 10.1002/anie.201916316] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2019] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
Abstract
Copper complexes are of medicinal and biological interest, including as anticancer drugs designed to cleave intracellular biomolecules by O2 activation. To exhibit such activity, the copper complex must be redox active and resistant to dissociation. Metallothioneins (MTs) and glutathione (GSH) are abundant in the cytosol and nucleus. Because they are thiol-rich reducing molecules with high CuI affinity, they are potential competitors for a copper ion bound in a copper drug. Herein, we report the investigation of a panel of CuI /CuII complexes often used as drugs, with diverse coordination chemistries and redox potentials. We evaluated their catalytic activity in ascorbate oxidation based on redox cycling between CuI and CuII , as well as their resistance to dissociation or inactivation under cytosolically relevant concentrations of GSH and MT. O2 -activating CuI /CuII complexes for cytosolic/nuclear targets are generally not stable against the GSH/MT system, which creates a challenge for their future design.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alice Santoro
- Institut de Chimie, UMR 7177, University of Strasbourg/ CNRS, 4 rue Blaise Pascal, 67000, Strasbourg, France
| | - Jenifer S Calvo
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, The University of Texas at Dallas, 800 W Campbell Rd., Richardson, TX, 75080, USA
| | - Manuel David Peris-Díaz
- Department of Chemical Biology, Faculty of Biotechnology, University of Wrocław, F. Joliot-Curie 14a, 50-383, Wrocław, Poland
| | - Artur Krężel
- Department of Chemical Biology, Faculty of Biotechnology, University of Wrocław, F. Joliot-Curie 14a, 50-383, Wrocław, Poland
| | - Gabriele Meloni
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, The University of Texas at Dallas, 800 W Campbell Rd., Richardson, TX, 75080, USA
| | - Peter Faller
- Institut de Chimie, UMR 7177, University of Strasbourg/ CNRS, 4 rue Blaise Pascal, 67000, Strasbourg, France
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16
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Pérez-Zúñiga C, Leiva-Presa À, Austin RN, Capdevila M, Palacios Ò. Pb(ii) binding to the brain specific mammalian metallothionein isoform MT3 and its isolated αMT3 and βMT3 domains. Metallomics 2020; 11:349-361. [PMID: 30516222 DOI: 10.1039/c8mt00294k] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
The toxicity of lead, one of the most ubiquitous toxic metals, is well known. Some of its pathological effects are related to its preference for the sulfhydryl groups of proteins. Metallothioneins (MT) are a particular family of metalloproteins characterized by their high Cys content that, among other functions, are linked to the detoxification of heavy metals. In mammals, 4 MT isoforms have been found. The MT3 isoform, also called "neuronal growth inhibitory factor", is mainly synthesized in the brain and contains several structural differences that may contribute to important functional differences between it and other MT isoforms. The abilities of recombinant MT3 and its individual αMT3 and βMT3 fragments to bind Pb(ii) have been investigated here, under different pH conditions, by means of spectroscopy, mass spectrometry and isothermal titration calorimetry. The results obtained show that the binding of Pb(ii) to the intact MT3 protein is relatively unaffected by pH, while the individual domains interact with Pb(ii) in a pH-sensitive manner. The mass spectrometry data reveal the evolution with time of the initially formed Pb-MT complexes. In the case of the full length protein, Pb(ii) remains bound for a long period of time. With the isolated fragments, the lead is eventually released. The Pb-species formed depend on the amount of Pb(ii) present in solution. The thermodynamic data recorded, as measured by ITC, for the replacement of Zn(ii) by Pb(ii) in reactions with Zn-MT3, Zn-αMT3 and Zn-βMT3 are all similar, and in all cases, the displacement of Zn(ii) by Pb(ii) is thermodynamically favorable. Zn-Replete and Pb-replete MT3 have distinctive circular dichroism spectra, suggestive of structural differences with different metallation status.
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Affiliation(s)
- Catalina Pérez-Zúñiga
- Departament de Química, Facultat de Ciències, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, E-08193 Cerdanyola del Vallès, Barcelona, Spain.
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17
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Yang HZ, Wang L, He YJ, Jing WX, Ma WL, Chen CM, Wang L. Analysis of spectrometry and thermodynamics of the metallothionein in freshwater crab Sinopotamon henanense for its binding ability with different metals. CHEMOSPHERE 2020; 246:125670. [PMID: 31918077 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2019.125670] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2019] [Revised: 12/12/2019] [Accepted: 12/13/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
The metal binding nature of heterologously expressed metallothionein of Sinopotamon henanense (ShMT) had been demonstrated previously. In this study, we analysed the stoichiometry of ShMT yielded in vivo and exchange reactions of the Zn-ShMT with Cd2+, Pb2+ and Cu2+in vitro via electrospray ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (ESI-TOF-MS), circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopy, inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS), and isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC). The results of ESI-TOF-MS analyses showed that metal-ShMT synthesized in vivo had three major forms, namely Zn15-, Cd9-, and Pb5-ShMT. The ITC analyses of exchange reactions demonstrated that Zn-ShMT exhibited up to 6, 6, and 7 binding sites for Cd2+, Pb2+ and Cu2+. By the analyses of the UV and CD spectra in the substitution experiments showed that the geometric structural stability of metal-ShMT could be influenced when excess of over 6, 6, or 7 equivalents of Cd2+, Pb2+, or Cu2+ were added into Zn-ShMT. Although both the reconstructed apo-ShMT and substituted Zn-ShMT with three metal ions fitted the same M6Ⅱ- and M7Ⅰ-ShMT binding models for divalent and monovalent metals, the differences in their thermodynamic data suggested that discrepancies exit in their physiological functions. These results suggested that ShMT yielded in vivo had a higher storage capability for Zn2+ and a uptake ability for Cd2+, and Zn-ShMT was more easy to release Zn2+ as well as to uptake Cd2+, Cu2+, or Pb2+. The results presented in this work will be very valuable to understand the function(s) of ShMT not only in a normal physiological condition but also in the presence of non-essential metals in crabs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hui Zhen Yang
- School of Life Science, Shanxi University, Taiyuan, Shanxi Province, 030006, China
| | - Lu Wang
- School of Life Science, Shanxi University, Taiyuan, Shanxi Province, 030006, China
| | - Yong J He
- Agricultural Processing Institution, Shanxi Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shanxi Province, China
| | - Wei X Jing
- School of Life Science, Shanxi University, Taiyuan, Shanxi Province, 030006, China
| | - Wen L Ma
- School of Life Science, Shanxi University, Taiyuan, Shanxi Province, 030006, China
| | - Chien M Chen
- Department of Environmental Resources Management, Chia Nan University of Pharmacy & Science, Taiwan.
| | - Lan Wang
- School of Life Science, Shanxi University, Taiyuan, Shanxi Province, 030006, China.
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18
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Santoro A, Calvo JS, Peris‐Díaz MD, Krężel A, Meloni G, Faller P. The Glutathione/Metallothionein System Challenges the Design of Efficient O
2
‐Activating Copper Complexes. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2020. [DOI: 10.1002/ange.201916316] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Alice Santoro
- Institut de Chimie UMR 7177 University of Strasbourg/ CNRS 4 rue Blaise Pascal 67000 Strasbourg France
| | - Jenifer S. Calvo
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry The University of Texas at Dallas 800 W Campbell Rd. Richardson TX 75080 USA
| | - Manuel David Peris‐Díaz
- Department of Chemical Biology, Faculty of Biotechnology University of Wrocław F. Joliot-Curie 14a 50–383 Wrocław Poland
| | - Artur Krężel
- Department of Chemical Biology, Faculty of Biotechnology University of Wrocław F. Joliot-Curie 14a 50–383 Wrocław Poland
| | - Gabriele Meloni
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry The University of Texas at Dallas 800 W Campbell Rd. Richardson TX 75080 USA
| | - Peter Faller
- Institut de Chimie UMR 7177 University of Strasbourg/ CNRS 4 rue Blaise Pascal 67000 Strasbourg France
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19
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Merlos Rodrigo MA, Jimenez Jimemez AM, Haddad Y, Bodoor K, Adam P, Krizkova S, Heger Z, Adam V. Metallothionein isoforms as double agents - Their roles in carcinogenesis, cancer progression and chemoresistance. Drug Resist Updat 2020; 52:100691. [PMID: 32615524 DOI: 10.1016/j.drup.2020.100691] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2020] [Revised: 02/25/2020] [Accepted: 03/01/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Metallothioneins (MTs) are small cysteine-rich intracellular proteins with four major isoforms identified in mammals, designated MT-1 through MT-4. The best known biological functions of MTs are their ability to bind and sequester metal ions as well as their active role in redox homeostasis. Despite these protective roles, numerous studies have demonstrated that changes in MT expression could be associated with the process of carcinogenesis and participation in cell differentiation, proliferation, migration, and angiogenesis. Hence, MTs have the role of double agents, i.e., working with and against cancer. In view of their rich biochemical properties, it is not surprising that MTs participate in the emergence of chemoresistance in tumor cells. Many studies have demonstrated that MT overexpression is involved in the acquisition of resistance to anticancer drugs including cisplatin, anthracyclines, tyrosine kinase inhibitors and mitomycin. The evidence is gradually increasing for a cellular switch in MT functions, showing that they indeed have two faces: protector and saboteur. Initially, MTs display anti-oncogenic and protective roles; however, once the oncogenic process was launched, MTs are utilized by cancer cells for progression, survival, and contribution to chemoresistance. The duality of MTs can serve as a potential prognostic/diagnostic biomarker and can therefore pave the way towards the development of new cancer treatment strategies. Herein, we review and discuss MTs as tumor disease markers and describe their role in chemoresistance to distinct anticancer drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miguel Angel Merlos Rodrigo
- Central European Institute of Technology, Brno University of Technology, Purkynova 123, CZ-612 00 Brno, Czech Republic; Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Mendel University in Brno, Zemedelska 1, CZ-613 00 Brno, Czech Republic.
| | - Ana Maria Jimenez Jimemez
- Central European Institute of Technology, Brno University of Technology, Purkynova 123, CZ-612 00 Brno, Czech Republic; Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Mendel University in Brno, Zemedelska 1, CZ-613 00 Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Yazan Haddad
- Central European Institute of Technology, Brno University of Technology, Purkynova 123, CZ-612 00 Brno, Czech Republic; Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Mendel University in Brno, Zemedelska 1, CZ-613 00 Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Khaldon Bodoor
- Department of Applied Biology, Jordan University of Science and Technology, 3030, Irbid, Jordan
| | - Pavlina Adam
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Mendel University in Brno, Zemedelska 1, CZ-613 00 Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Sona Krizkova
- Central European Institute of Technology, Brno University of Technology, Purkynova 123, CZ-612 00 Brno, Czech Republic; Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Mendel University in Brno, Zemedelska 1, CZ-613 00 Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Zbynek Heger
- Central European Institute of Technology, Brno University of Technology, Purkynova 123, CZ-612 00 Brno, Czech Republic; Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Mendel University in Brno, Zemedelska 1, CZ-613 00 Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Vojtech Adam
- Central European Institute of Technology, Brno University of Technology, Purkynova 123, CZ-612 00 Brno, Czech Republic; Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Mendel University in Brno, Zemedelska 1, CZ-613 00 Brno, Czech Republic.
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20
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Melenbacher A, Korkola NC, Stillman MJ. The pathways and domain specificity of Cu(i) binding to human metallothionein 1A. Metallomics 2020; 12:1951-1964. [DOI: 10.1039/d0mt00215a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
We describe the sequential formation of 3 key Cu(i)–thiolate clusters in human metallothionein 1A using a combination of ESI-MS and phosphorescence lifetime methods.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adyn Melenbacher
- Department of Chemistry
- The University of Western Ontario
- London
- Canada
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21
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Yang HZ, Gu WJ, Chen W, Hwang JS, Wang L. Metal binding characterization of heterologously expressed metallothionein of the freshwater crab Sinopotamon henanense. CHEMOSPHERE 2019; 235:926-934. [PMID: 31299706 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2019.06.097] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2019] [Revised: 06/11/2019] [Accepted: 06/12/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
We characterized the metal tolerance of recombinant strains harboring metallothionein from the freshwater crab Sinopotamon henanense (ShMT) in vivo and metal binding properties of ShMT purified in vitro. The recombinant strains harboring ShMT were exposed to 0.1 mM Cd2+, 0.3 mM Cu2+, 0.5 mM Pb2+, and 0.8 mM Zn2+. The growth curves and spot assays of recombinant strains and the contents of heavy metal ions were analysed in the media supplemented with above metal ions provided to recombinant E. coli synthesis. The structural characteristics of the Cd-, Cu-, Pb-, and Zn-ShMT were determined through ultraviolet spectroscopy (UV-vis), circular dichroism (CD), and isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC). The in vivo results showed that, compared to control strains, recombinant strains tolerated Cd2+, Cu2+, Pb2+, and Zn2+. Furthermore, the contents of Cd2+ and Pb2+ in media decreased substantially. In vitro and the Cd-ShMT had a higher degree of folding compactness in solution. 5,5'-Dithiobis-(2-nitrobenzoic) acid (DTNB) reaction and ITC results demonstrated that ShMT yielded Cd6-, Cu7-, and Pb6-ShMT. The binding stability order was Cu-ShMT > Cd-ShMT > Pb-ShMT > Zn-ShMT. Overall, ShMT is a canonical crustacean MT and is defined as a Cd-specific MT isoform that functions mainly in a detoxifying Cd2+ and Pb2+ and in regulating Zn2+ homeostasis in S. henanense. This research on the metal binding properties of ShMT provides a better understanding of the physiological function of ShMT reducing heavy metal bioavailability and by regulating essential trace metals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hui Zhen Yang
- School of Life Science, Shanxi University, Taiyuan, Shanxi Province, 030006, China
| | - Wen J Gu
- School of Life Science, Shanxi University, Taiyuan, Shanxi Province, 030006, China
| | - Wei Chen
- Medical School, Duke University, USA
| | - Jiang S Hwang
- School of Life Science, Taiwan Ocean University, Taiwan
| | - Lan Wang
- School of Life Science, Shanxi University, Taiyuan, Shanxi Province, 030006, China.
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22
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Calvo JS, Lopez VM, Meloni G. Non-coordinative metal selectivity bias in human metallothioneins metal-thiolate clusters. Metallomics 2019; 10:1777-1791. [PMID: 30420986 DOI: 10.1039/c8mt00264a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Mammalian metallothioneins (MT-1 through MT-4) are a class of metal binding proteins containing two metal-thiolate clusters formed through the preferential coordination of d10 metals, Cu(i) and Zn(ii), by 20 conserved cysteine residues located in two protein domains. MT metalation (homometallic or heterometallic Zn(ii)/Cu(i) species) appears to be isoform specific and controlling zinc and copper concentrations to perform specific and distinct biological functions. Structural and functional relationships, and in vivo metalation studies, identified evolutionary features defining the metal-selectivity nature for MTs. Metallothionein-3 (MT-3) has been shown to possess the most pronounced Cu-thionein character forming Cu(i)-containing species more favorably than metallothionein-2 (MT-2), which possesses the strongest Zn-thionein character. In this work, we identify isoform-specific determinants which control metal binding selectivity bias in different MTs isoforms. By studying the reactivity of Zn7MT-2, Zn7MT-3 and Zn7MT-3 mutants towards Cu(ii) to form Cu(i)4Zn4MTs, we have identified isoform-specific key non-coordinating residues governing folding/outer sphere control of metal selectivity bias in MTs metal clusters. By mutating selected residues and motifs in MT-3 to the corresponding MT-2 amino acids, we dissected key roles in modulating cluster dynamic and metal exchange rates, in increasing the Cu(i)-affinity in MT-3 N-terminal β-domain and/or modulating the higher stability of the Zn(ii)-thiolate cluster in MT-2 β-domain. We thus engineered MT-3 variants in which the copper-thionein character is converted into a zinc-thionein. These results provide new insights into the molecular determinants governing metal selectivity in metal-thiolate clusters.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jenifer S Calvo
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, The University of Texas at Dallas, 800 W Campbell Rd., Richardson, TX 75080, USA.
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Stefaniak E, Bal W. Cu II Binding Properties of N-Truncated Aβ Peptides: In Search of Biological Function. Inorg Chem 2019; 58:13561-13577. [PMID: 31304745 DOI: 10.1021/acs.inorgchem.9b01399] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
As life expectancy increases, the number of people affected by progressive and irreversible dementia, Alzheimer's Disease (AD), is predicted to grow. No drug designs seem to be working in humans, apparently because the origins of AD have not been identified. Invoking amyloid cascade, metal ions, and ROS production hypothesis of AD, herein we share our point of view on Cu(II) binding properties of Aβ4-x, the most prevalent N-truncated Aβ peptide, currently known as the main constituent of amyloid plaques. The capability of Aβ4-x to rapidly take over copper from previously tested Aβ1-x peptides and form highly stable complexes, redox unreactive and resistant to copper exchange reactions, prompted us to propose physiological roles for these peptides. We discuss the new findings on the reactivity of Cu(II)Aβ4-x with coexisting biomolecules in the context of synaptic cleft; we suggest that the role of Aβ4-x peptides is to quench Cu(II) toxicity in the brain and maintain neurotransmission.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ewelina Stefaniak
- Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Polish Academy of Sciences , Pawińskiego 5a , 02-106 Warsaw , Poland
| | - Wojciech Bal
- Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Polish Academy of Sciences , Pawińskiego 5a , 02-106 Warsaw , Poland
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24
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Jiang Z, Shen B, Xiang J. Metal-dependent interactions of metallothionein-3 β-domain with amyloid-β peptide and related physiological implications. J Inorg Biochem 2019; 196:110693. [PMID: 31005822 DOI: 10.1016/j.jinorgbio.2019.110693] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/01/2019] [Revised: 04/10/2019] [Accepted: 04/12/2019] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
Aberrant interactions of metal ions with amyloid-β peptide (Aβ) can potentiate Alzheimer's disease (AD) by participating in the aggregation process of Aβ and in the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Metallothionein-3 (MT3), which is aberrantly expressed in AD brains, is believed to play an important role in the AD progression due to its ability of maintaining metal homeostasis and scavenging ROS. However, the related molecular mechanism is not clear. In this work, the metal-dependent interactions of MT3 β-domain (βMT3) with amyloid-β peptide (Aβ) were systematically studied. The results showed that Zn3-βMT3 has a higher affinity to Aβ (Kd: ~0.7 μM) than Cu4-βMT3 (Kd: ~22 μM). In Zn3-βMT3, both Pro7 and Pro9 face outwards with their five-member rings in parallel, favoring their binding with aromatic residues via CH/π interactions. Two aromatic residues (Phe4 and Tyr10) in Aβ were identified as the specific binding sites for βMT3. Based on these, we posit a characteristic in-situ protection role of Zn-MT3 in inhibiting the Cu2+-induced Aβ neurotoxicity, in which stable Zn-MT3/Aβ complex forms via the Zn3-βMT3/Aβ interaction and effectively prevents the formation of Cu-Aβ in high viscosity physiological fluids. Our results provide the mechanistic pathway and the specific roles of βMT3 in its protective bioactivity against AD progression, which means significant for elucidating the function of MT3 in AD neuropathology and for designing a MT3-related therapeutic strategy for AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhongxiu Jiang
- College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Central South University, Changsha 410083, PR China
| | - Baochai Shen
- College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Central South University, Changsha 410083, PR China
| | - Juan Xiang
- College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Central South University, Changsha 410083, PR China.
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Scheller JS, Irvine GW, Stillman MJ. Unravelling the mechanistic details of metal binding to mammalian metallothioneins from stoichiometric, kinetic, and binding affinity data. Dalton Trans 2018; 47:3613-3637. [PMID: 29431781 DOI: 10.1039/c7dt03319b] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Metallothioneins (MTs) are small, cysteine-rich proteins, found throughout Nature. Their ability to bind a number of different metals with a range of stoichiometric ratios means that this protein family is critically important for essential metal (Zn2+ and Cu+) homeostasis, metal storage, metal donation to nascent metalloenzymes as well as heavy metal detoxification. With its 20 cysteines, metallothionein is also considered to protect cells against oxidative stress. MT has been studied by a large number of researchers over the last 6 decades using a variety of spectroscopic techniques. The lack of distinguishing chromophores for the multitude of binding sites has made the evaluation of stoichiometric properties for different metals challenging. Initially, only 113Cd-NMR spectroscopy could provide strong evidence for the proposed cluster formation of Cd-MT. The extraordinary development of electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS), where all coexisting species in solution are observed, revolutionized MT research. Prior to the use of ESI-MS data, a range of "magic numbers" representing metal-to-MT molar ratios were reported from optical spectroscopic studies. The availability of ESI mass spectral data led to (i) the confirmation of cluster formation, (ii) a conceptual understanding of the cooperativity involved in multiple metal binding events, (iii) the presence of domain specificity between regions of the protein and (iv) mechanistic details involving both binding affinities and rate constants. The kinetic experiments identified the presence of multiple individual binding sites, each with a unique rate constant and an analogous binding affinity. The almost linear trend in rate constants as a function of bound As3+ provided a unique insight that became a critical step in the complete understanding of the mechanistic details of the metalation of MT. To fully define the biological function of this sulfur-rich protein it is necessary to determine kinetic rate constants and binding affinities for the essential metals. Recently, Zn2+ competition experiments between both of the isolated fragments (α and β) and the full-length protein (βα-MT 1a) as well as Zn2+ competition between βα-MT 1a and carbonic anhydrase were reported. From these data, the trend in binding affinities and the values of the Kf of the 7 bimolecular reactions involved in metalation were determined. From the analysis of ESI-MS data for Cu+ binding to βα-MT 1a at different pH-values, a trend in the 20 binding affinities for the complete metalation mechanism was reported. This review details a personal view of the historical development of the determination of stoichiometry for metal binding, the structure of the binding sites, the rates of the metalation reactions and the underlying binding affinities for each metalation step. We have attempted to summarize the experimental developments that led to the publication in May 2017 of the experimental determination of the 20 binding constants for the 20 sequential bimolecular reactions for Cu+ binding to the 20 Cys of apoMT as a function of pH that show the appearance and disappearance of clusters. We report both published data and in a series of tables an assembly of stoichiometries, and equilibrium constants for Zn2+ and Cu+ for many different metallothioneins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Judith S Scheller
- Department of Chemistry, The University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario N6A 5B7, Canada.
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Atrián-Blasco E, Santoro A, Pountney DL, Meloni G, Hureau C, Faller P. Chemistry of mammalian metallothioneins and their interaction with amyloidogenic peptides and proteins. Chem Soc Rev 2017; 46:7683-7693. [PMID: 29114657 PMCID: PMC5728347 DOI: 10.1039/c7cs00448f] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Cu and Zn ions are essential in most living beings. Their metabolism is critical for health and mis-metabolism can be lethal. In the last two decades, a large body of evidence has reported the role of copper, zinc and iron, and oxidative stress in several neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, prion diseases, etc. To what extent this mis-metabolism is causative or a consequence of these diseases is still a matter of research. In this context metallothioneins (MTs) appear to play a central gate-keeper role in controlling aberrant metal-protein interactions. MTs are small proteins that can bind high amounts of Zn(ii) and Cu(i) ions in metal-cluster arrangements via their cysteine thiolates. Moreover, MTs are well known antioxidants. The present tutorial outlines the chemistry underlying the interconnection between copper(i/ii) and zinc(ii) coordination to amyloidogenic proteins and MTs, and their redox properties in generation and/or silencing reactive oxygen species (overproduced in oxidative stress) and other reactants. These studies have revealed the coordination chemistry involved in neurodegenerative diseases and the interactions between MTs and amyloidogenic protein metal-complexes (like amyloid-β, α-synuclein and prion-protein). Overall, the protective role of MTs in neurodegenerative processes is emerging, serving as a foundation for exploring MT chemistry as inspiration for therapeutic approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elena Atrián-Blasco
- LCC (Laboratoire de Chimie de Coordination), CNRS UPR 8241, 205 route de Narbonne, 31062 Toulouse Cedex 09 (France)
- Université de Toulouse ; UPS, INPT, 31077 Toulouse (France)
| | - Alice Santoro
- Biometals and Biology Chemistry, Institut de Chimie (CNRS UMR7177), Université de Strasbourg, 4 rue B. Pascal, 67081 Strasbourg, France
| | - Dean L. Pountney
- Menzies Health Institute Queensland, Griffith University Gold Coast 4222, QLD, Australia
| | - Gabriele Meloni
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Texas at Dallas, 800 W Campbell Road, Richardson, TX 75080-3021, USA
| | - Christelle Hureau
- LCC (Laboratoire de Chimie de Coordination), CNRS UPR 8241, 205 route de Narbonne, 31062 Toulouse Cedex 09 (France)
- Université de Toulouse ; UPS, INPT, 31077 Toulouse (France)
- University of Strasbourg Institute for Advanced Study (USIAS), Strasbourg, France
| | - Peter Faller
- Biometals and Biology Chemistry, Institut de Chimie (CNRS UMR7177), Université de Strasbourg, 4 rue B. Pascal, 67081 Strasbourg, France
- University of Strasbourg Institute for Advanced Study (USIAS), Strasbourg, France
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Bousleiman J, Pinsky A, Ki S, Su A, Morozova I, Kalachikov S, Wiqas A, Silver R, Sever M, Austin RN. Function of Metallothionein-3 in Neuronal Cells: Do Metal Ions Alter Expression Levels of MT3? Int J Mol Sci 2017; 18:ijms18061133. [PMID: 28587098 PMCID: PMC5485957 DOI: 10.3390/ijms18061133] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2017] [Revised: 05/16/2017] [Accepted: 05/16/2017] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
A study of factors proposed to affect metallothionein-3 (MT3) function was carried out to elucidate the opaque role MT3 plays in human metalloneurochemistry. Gene expression of Mt2 and Mt3 was examined in tissues extracted from the dentate gyrus of mouse brains and in human neuronal cell cultures. The whole-genome gene expression analysis identified significant variations in the mRNA levels of genes associated with zinc homeostasis, including Mt2 and Mt3. Mt3 was found to be the most differentially expressed gene in the identified groups, pointing to the existence of a factor, not yet identified, that differentially controls Mt3 expression. To examine the expression of the human metallothioneins in neurons, mRNA levels of MT3 and MT2 were compared in BE(2)C and SH-SY5Y cell cultures treated with lead, zinc, cobalt, and lithium. MT2 was highly upregulated by Zn2+ in both cell cultures, while MT3 was not affected, and no other metal had an effect on either MT2 or MT3.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jamie Bousleiman
- Department of Chemistry, Barnard College of Columbia University, New York, NY 10027, USA.
| | - Alexa Pinsky
- Department of Chemistry, Barnard College of Columbia University, New York, NY 10027, USA.
| | - Sohee Ki
- Department of Chemistry, Barnard College of Columbia University, New York, NY 10027, USA.
| | - Angela Su
- Department of Chemistry, Barnard College of Columbia University, New York, NY 10027, USA.
| | - Irina Morozova
- Center for Genome Technology and Biomolecular Engineering, Department of Chemical Engineering, Columbia University, New York, NY 10027, USA.
| | - Sergey Kalachikov
- Center for Genome Technology and Biomolecular Engineering, Department of Chemical Engineering, Columbia University, New York, NY 10027, USA.
| | - Amen Wiqas
- Department of Biology, Barnard College of Columbia University, New York, NY 10027, USA.
| | - Rae Silver
- Department of Psychology and Program in Neuroscience, Barnard College of Columbia University, New York, NY 10027, USA.
- Department of Psychology, Columbia University, New York, NY 10027, USA.
- Department of Pathology and Cell Biology Columbia Health Sciences, New York, NY 10027, USA.
| | - Mary Sever
- Department of Chemistry, Barnard College of Columbia University, New York, NY 10027, USA.
| | - Rachel Narehood Austin
- Department of Chemistry, Barnard College of Columbia University, New York, NY 10027, USA.
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Mammalian Metallothionein-3: New Functional and Structural Insights. Int J Mol Sci 2017; 18:ijms18061117. [PMID: 28538697 PMCID: PMC5485941 DOI: 10.3390/ijms18061117] [Citation(s) in RCA: 63] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2017] [Revised: 05/12/2017] [Accepted: 05/15/2017] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Metallothionein-3 (MT-3), a member of the mammalian metallothionein (MT) family, is mainly expressed in the central nervous system (CNS). MT-3 possesses a unique neuronal growth inhibitory activity, and the levels of this intra- and extracellularly occurring metalloprotein are markedly diminished in the brain of patients affected by a number of metal-linked neurodegenerative disorders, including Alzheimer’s disease (AD). In these pathologies, the redox cycling of copper, accompanied by the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), plays a key role in the neuronal toxicity. Although MT-3 shares the metal-thiolate clusters with the well-characterized MT-1 and MT-2, it shows distinct biological, structural and chemical properties. Owing to its anti-oxidant properties and modulator function not only for Zn, but also for Cu in the extra- and intracellular space, MT-3, but not MT-1/MT-2, protects neuronal cells from the toxicity of various Cu(II)-bound amyloids. In recent years, the roles of zinc dynamics and MT-3 function in neurodegeneration are slowly emerging. This short review focuses on the recent developments regarding the chemistry and biology of MT-3.
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Irvine GW, Stillman MJ. Residue Modification and Mass Spectrometry for the Investigation of Structural and Metalation Properties of Metallothionein and Cysteine-Rich Proteins. Int J Mol Sci 2017; 18:ijms18050913. [PMID: 28445428 PMCID: PMC5454826 DOI: 10.3390/ijms18050913] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2017] [Revised: 04/18/2017] [Accepted: 04/20/2017] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Structural information regarding metallothioneins (MTs) has been hard to come by due to its highly dynamic nature in the absence of metal-thiolate cluster formation and crystallization difficulties. Thus, typical spectroscopic methods for structural determination are limited in their usefulness when applied to MTs. Mass spectrometric methods have revolutionized our understanding of protein dynamics, structure, and folding. Recently, advances have been made in residue modification mass spectrometry in order to probe the hard-to-characterize structure of apo- and partially metalated MTs. By using different cysteine specific alkylation reagents, time dependent electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS), and step-wise “snapshot” ESI-MS, we are beginning to understand the dynamics of the conformers of apo-MT and related species. In this review we highlight recent papers that use these and similar techniques for structure elucidation and attempt to explain in a concise manner the data interpretations of these complex methods. We expect increasing resolution in our picture of the structural conformations of metal-free MTs as these techniques are more widely adopted and combined with other promising tools for structural elucidation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gordon W Irvine
- Department of Chemistry, The University of Western Ontario, London, ON N6A 3K7, Canada.
| | - Martin J Stillman
- Department of Chemistry, The University of Western Ontario, London, ON N6A 3K7, Canada.
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Goch W, Bal W. Numerical Simulations Reveal Randomness of Cu(II) Induced Aβ Peptide Dimerization under Conditions Present in Glutamatergic Synapses. PLoS One 2017; 12:e0170749. [PMID: 28125716 PMCID: PMC5268396 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0170749] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2016] [Accepted: 01/10/2017] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
The interactions between the Aβ1-40 molecules species and the copper ions (Cu(II)) were intensively investigated due to their potential role in the development of the Alzheimer Disease (AD). The rate and the mechanism of the Cu(II)-Aβ complexes formation determines the aggregation pathway of the Aβ species, starting from smaller but more cytotoxic oligomers and ending up in large Aβ plaques, being the main hallmark of the AD. In our study we exploit the existing knowledge on the Cu(II)-Aβ interactions and create the theoretical model of the initial phase of the copper- driven Aβ aggregation mechanism. The model is based on the direct solution of the Chemical Master Equations, which capture the inherent stochastics of the considered system. In our work we argue that due to a strong Cu(II) affinity to Aβ and temporal accessibility of the Cu(II) ions during normal synaptic activity the aggregation driven by Cu(II) dominates the pure Aβ aggregation. We also demonstrate the dependence of the formation of different Cu(II)-Aβ complexes on the concentrations of reagents and the synaptic activity. Our findings correspond to recent experimental results and give a sound hypothesis on the AD development mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wojciech Goch
- Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Wojciech Bal
- Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland
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31
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Scheller JS, Irvine GW, Wong DL, Hartwig A, Stillman MJ. Stepwise copper(i) binding to metallothionein: a mixed cooperative and non-cooperative mechanism for all 20 copper ions. Metallomics 2017; 9:447-462. [DOI: 10.1039/c7mt00041c] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
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Scudiero R, Cigliano L, Verderame M. Age-related changes of metallothionein 1/2 and metallothionein 3 expression in rat brain. C R Biol 2016; 340:13-17. [PMID: 27939232 DOI: 10.1016/j.crvi.2016.11.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2016] [Revised: 11/14/2016] [Accepted: 11/15/2016] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Neurodegeneration is one of the main physiological consequences of aging on brain. Metallothioneins (MTs), low molecular weight, cysteine-rich proteins that bind heavy-metal ions and oxygen-free radicals, are commonly expressed in various tissues of mammals. MTs are involved in the regulation of cell proliferation and protection, and may be engaged in aging. Expression of the ubiquitous MTs (1 and 2) and the brain specific MT3 have been studied in many neurodegenerative disorders. The research results indicate that MTs may play important, although not yet fully known, roles in brain diseases; in addition, data lack the ability to identify the MT isoforms functionally involved. The aim of this study was to analyse the level of gene expression of selected MT isoforms during brain aging. By using real-time PCR analysis, we determined the MT1/2 and MT3 expression profiles in cerebral cortex and hippocampus of adolescent (2months), adult (4 and 8months), and middle-aged (16months) rats. We show that the relative abundance of all types of MT transcripts changes during aging in both hippocampus and cortex; the first effect is a generalized decrease in the content of MTs transcripts from 2- to 8-months-old rats. After passing middle age, at 16months, we observe a huge increase in MT3 transcripts in both cortical and hippocampal areas, while the MT1/2 mRNA content increases slightly, returning to the levels measured in adolescent rats. These findings demonstrate an age-related expression of the MT3 gene. A possible link between the increasing amount of MT3 in brain aging and its different metal-binding behaviour is discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rosaria Scudiero
- Department of Biology, University of Naples Federico II, via Mezzocannone 8, 80134 Napoli, Italy.
| | - Luisa Cigliano
- Department of Biology, University of Naples Federico II, via Mezzocannone 8, 80134 Napoli, Italy
| | - Mariailaria Verderame
- Department of Biology, University of Naples Federico II, via Mezzocannone 8, 80134 Napoli, Italy
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Yang Z, Zhang T, Gao H. Genetic aspects of pituitary carcinoma: A systematic review. Medicine (Baltimore) 2016; 95:e5268. [PMID: 27893664 PMCID: PMC5134857 DOI: 10.1097/md.0000000000005268] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2016] [Revised: 09/27/2016] [Accepted: 10/08/2016] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Pituitary carcinoma (PC) is a rare type of malignant intracranial neoplasm defined as distant metastasis of pituitary adenoma (PA). Although PC incidence is low because only 0.1% to 0.2% of PAs ultimately develop into PCs, the prognosis is poor and 66% of patients die within the first year. Existing therapeutic measures, including surgical removal, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy, have limited effectiveness. The lack of efficacy of current treatments is largely caused by the limited understanding of the molecular pathogenesis of PA and the malignant transformation to PC. Therefore, the aim of this systematic review was to summarize published research regarding gene and protein expression in PC to clarify the molecular mechanisms underlying PC genesis and development and identify new candidate diagnostic biomarkers and therapeutic targets for potential use in personalized treatment of PC. METHODS We followed the PRISMA guidelines to plan and conduct this systematic review. PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science databases were searched for relevant studies conducted before December 16, 2015 describing the association of PC with gene expression at the mRNA and protein levels. MeSH terms combined with free terms were used to retrieve the references. RESULTS In total, 207 records were obtained by primary search, and 32 were included in the systematic review. Compared with normal pituitary gland and/or PA, 30 and 18 genes were found to have higher or lower expression, respectively, in PCs using different analytical methods. Among them, we selected 9 upregulated and 7 downregulated genes for further analysis based on their identification as candidate treatment targets in other cancers, potential clinical application, or further research value. CONCLUSION Previous studies demonstrated that many genes promote PC malignant transformation, angiogenesis, invasion, metastasis, and recurrence. Although most of these genes and proteins have not been fully analyzed with regard to their downstream mechanisms or potential diagnostic and therapeutic application, they have the potential to become candidate PC biomarkers and/or molecular targets for guiding personalized treatment. Modern advanced technologies should be utilized in future research to identify more candidate genes for PC pathogenesis, as precisely targeted gene therapies against PC are urgently required.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zijiang Yang
- Department of Neurosurgery, Jiangyin People's Hospital Affiliated to Nantong University
| | - Ting Zhang
- Central Laboratory, Jiangyin People's Hospital Affiliated to Nantong University
| | - Heng Gao
- Department of Neurosurgery, Jiangyin people's Hospital Affiliated to Nantong University, Jiangyin, Wuxi, China
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34
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Irvine GW, Pinter TBJ, Stillman MJ. Defining the metal binding pathways of human metallothionein 1a: balancing zinc availability and cadmium seclusion. Metallomics 2016; 8:71-81. [PMID: 26583802 DOI: 10.1039/c5mt00225g] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
Metallothioneins (MTs) are cysteine-rich, metal-binding proteins that are found throughout Nature. This ubiquity highlights their importance in essential metal regulation, heavy metal detoxification and cellular redox chemistry. Missing from the current description of MT function is the underlying mechanism by which MTs achieve their proposed biological functions. To date, there have been conflicting reports on the mechanism of metal binding and the structures of the metal binding intermediates formed during metalation of apoMTs. The form of the metal-bound intermediates dictates the metal sequestering and metal-donating properties of the protein. Through a detailed analysis of spectral data from electrospray ionization mass spectromeric and circular dichroism methods we report that Zn(ii) and Cd(ii) metalation of the human MT1a takes place through two distinct pathways. The first pathway involves formation of beaded structures with up to five metals bound terminally to the 20 cysteines of the protein via a noncooperative mechanism. The second pathway is dominated by the formation of the four-metal domain cluster structure M4SCYS11via a cooperative mechanism. We report that there are different pathway preferences for Zn(ii) and Cd(ii) metalation of apo-hMT1a. Cd(ii) binding follows the beaded pathway above pH 7.1 but beginning below pH 7.1 the clustered (Cd4Scys11) pathway begins to dominate. In contrast, Zn(ii) binding follows the terminal, "beaded", pathway at all physiologically relevant pH (pH ≥ 5.2) only following the clustered pathway below pH 5.1. The results presented here allow us to reconcile the conflicting reports concerning the presence of different metalation intermediates of MTs. The conflict regarding cooperative versus noncooperative binding mechanisms is also reconciled with the experimental results described here. These two metal-specific pathways and the presence of radically different intermediate structures provide insight into the multi-functional nature of MT: binding Zn(ii) terminally for donation to metalloenzymes and sequestering toxic Cd(ii) in a cluster structure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gordon W Irvine
- Department of Chemistry, The University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario N6A 5B7, Canada.
| | - Tyler B J Pinter
- Department of Chemistry, The University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario N6A 5B7, Canada.
| | - Martin J Stillman
- Department of Chemistry, The University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario N6A 5B7, Canada.
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35
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Zinc and zinc-containing biomolecules in childhood brain tumors. J Mol Med (Berl) 2016; 94:1199-1215. [PMID: 27638340 DOI: 10.1007/s00109-016-1454-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2016] [Revised: 07/13/2016] [Accepted: 07/27/2016] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Zinc ions are essential cofactors of a wide range of enzymes, transcription factors, and other regulatory proteins. Moreover, zinc is also involved in cellular signaling and enzymes inhibition. Zinc dysregulation, deficiency, over-supply, and imbalance in zinc ion transporters regulation are connected with various diseases including cancer. A zinc ion pool is maintained by two types of proteins: (i) zinc-binding proteins, which act as a buffer and intracellular donors of zinc and (ii) zinc transporters responsible for zinc fluxes into/from cells and organelles. The decreased serum zinc ion levels have been identified in patients suffering from various cancer diseases, including head and neck tumors and breast, prostate, liver, and lung cancer. On the contrary, increased zinc ion levels have been found in breast cancer and other malignant tissues. Zinc metalloproteomes of a majority of tumors including brain ones are still not yet fully understood. Current knowledge show that zinc ion levels and detection of certain zinc-containing proteins may be utilized for diagnostic and prognostic purposes. In addition, these proteins can also be promising therapeutic targets. The aim of the present work is an overview of the importance of zinc ions, zinc transporters, and zinc-containing proteins in brain tumors, which are, after leukemia, the second most common type of childhood cancer and the second leading cause of death in children after accidents.
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Wezynfeld NE, Stefaniak E, Stachucy K, Drozd A, Płonka D, Drew SC, Krężel A, Bal W. Resistance of Cu(Aβ4-16) to Copper Capture by Metallothionein-3 Supports a Function for the Aβ4-42 Peptide as a Synaptic Cu(II) Scavenger. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2016; 55:8235-8. [PMID: 27238224 DOI: 10.1002/anie.201511968] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2015] [Revised: 03/23/2015] [Indexed: 01/16/2023]
Abstract
Aβ4-42 is a major species of Aβ peptide in the brains of both healthy individuals and those affected by Alzheimer's disease. It has recently been demonstrated to bind Cu(II) with an affinity approximately 3000 times higher than the commonly studied Aβ1-42 and Aβ1-40 peptides, which are implicated in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease. Metallothionein-3, a protein considered to orchestrate copper and zinc metabolism in the brain and provide antioxidant protection, was shown to extract Cu(II) from Aβ1-40 when acting in its native Zn7 MT-3 form. This reaction is assumed to underlie the neuroprotective effect of Zn7 MT-3 against Aβ toxicity. In this work, we used the truncated model peptides Aβ1-16 and Aβ4-16 to demonstrate that the high-affinity Cu(II) complex of Aβ4-16 is resistant to Zn7 MT-3 reactivity. This indicates that the analogous complex of the full-length peptide Cu(Aβ4-42) will not yield copper to MT-3 in the brain, thus supporting the concept of a physiological role for Aβ4-42 as a Cu(II) scavenger in the synaptic cleft.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nina E Wezynfeld
- Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Polish Academy of Sciences, Pawińskiego 5a, 02-106, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Ewelina Stefaniak
- Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Polish Academy of Sciences, Pawińskiego 5a, 02-106, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Kinga Stachucy
- Laboratory of Chemical Biology, University of Wrocław, Poland
| | - Agnieszka Drozd
- Laboratory of Chemical Biology, University of Wrocław, Poland
| | - Dawid Płonka
- Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Polish Academy of Sciences, Pawińskiego 5a, 02-106, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Simon C Drew
- Florey Department of Neuroscience and Mental Health, The University of Melbourne, Australia
| | - Artur Krężel
- Laboratory of Chemical Biology, University of Wrocław, Poland
| | - Wojciech Bal
- Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Polish Academy of Sciences, Pawińskiego 5a, 02-106, Warsaw, Poland.
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Wezynfeld NE, Stefaniak E, Stachucy K, Drozd A, Płonka D, Drew SC, Krężel A, Bal W. Resistance of Cu(Aβ4
–
16) to Copper Capture by Metallothionein‐3 Supports a Function for the Aβ4
–
42 Peptide as a Synaptic Cu
II
Scavenger. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2016. [DOI: 10.1002/ange.201511968] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Nina E. Wezynfeld
- Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics Polish Academy of Sciences Pawińskiego 5a 02-106 Warsaw Poland
| | - Ewelina Stefaniak
- Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics Polish Academy of Sciences Pawińskiego 5a 02-106 Warsaw Poland
| | - Kinga Stachucy
- Laboratory of Chemical Biology University of Wrocław Poland
| | | | - Dawid Płonka
- Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics Polish Academy of Sciences Pawińskiego 5a 02-106 Warsaw Poland
| | - Simon C. Drew
- Florey Department of Neuroscience and Mental Health The University of Melbourne Australia
| | - Artur Krężel
- Laboratory of Chemical Biology University of Wrocław Poland
| | - Wojciech Bal
- Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics Polish Academy of Sciences Pawińskiego 5a 02-106 Warsaw Poland
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Irvine GW, Stillman MJ. Cadmium binding mechanisms of isolated domains of human MT isoform 1a: Non-cooperative terminal sites and cooperative cluster sites. J Inorg Biochem 2016; 158:115-121. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jinorgbio.2016.03.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2015] [Revised: 03/05/2016] [Accepted: 03/10/2016] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
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Ostrakhovitch EA, Song YP, Cherian MG. Basal and copper-induced expression of metallothionein isoform 1,2 and 3 genes in epithelial cancer cells: The role of tumor suppressor p53. J Trace Elem Med Biol 2016; 35:18-29. [PMID: 27049123 DOI: 10.1016/j.jtemb.2016.01.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2015] [Revised: 01/14/2016] [Accepted: 01/14/2016] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Metallothioneins (MTs) are a ubiquitous low-molecular weight, cysteine rich proteins with a high affinity for metal ions. The expression and induction of MTs have been associated with protection against DNA damage, oxidative stress, and apoptosis. Our past research had shown that p53 is an important factor in metal regulation of MTs. The present study was undertaken to explore further the interrelationship between p53 and MTs. We investigated whether silencing of p53 could affect expression pattern of basal and copper induced metallothioneins. The silencing of wild-type p53 (wt-p53) in epithelial breast cancer MCF7 cells affected the basal level of MT-2A RNA, whereas the levels of MT-1A and MT-1X RNA remained largely unchanged. The expression of MT-3 was undetectable in MCF7 with either functional or silenced p53. MCF7 cells with silenced wt-p53 failed to upregulate MT-2A in response to copper and showed a reduced sensitivity toward copper induced cell apoptotic death. Similarly in MCF7-E6 and MDA-MB-231 cells, the presence of inactive/mutated p53 halted MT-1A and MT-2A gene expression in response to copper. Constitutive expression of MT-3 RNA was detectable in the presence of mutated p53 (mtp53). Transient transfection of MDA-MB-231 cells with wt-p53 enabled copper induced upregulation of both MT-1A and MT-2A but not basal level of MT-2A, MT-1E, MT-1X and MT-3. Inactivation of p53 in HepG2 cells amplified the basal expression of studied MT isoforms, including MT-3, as well as copper-induced mRNA expression of MTs except MT-1H and MT-3. Presented data demonstrate a direct relation between p53 and MT-1A and MT-2A and they also indicate that wt-p53 might be a negative regulator of MT-3 in epithelial cancer cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- E A Ostrakhovitch
- Department of Pathology, University of Western Ontario, Canada; Department of Chemistry, University of Western Ontario, Canada.
| | - Y P Song
- Department of Pathology, University of Western Ontario, Canada; Department of Chemistry, University of Western Ontario, Canada
| | - M G Cherian
- Department of Pathology, University of Western Ontario, Canada; Department of Chemistry, University of Western Ontario, Canada
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Adam P, Křížková S, Heger Z, Babula P, Pekařík V, Vaculovičoá M, Gomes CM, Kizek R, Adam V. Metallothioneins in Prion- and Amyloid-Related Diseases. J Alzheimers Dis 2016; 51:637-56. [DOI: 10.3233/jad-150984] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Pavlína Adam
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Mendel University in Brno, Zemedelska 1, Brno, Czech Republic
- Central European Institute of Technology, Brno University of Technology, Technicka, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Soňa Křížková
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Mendel University in Brno, Zemedelska 1, Brno, Czech Republic
- Central European Institute of Technology, Brno University of Technology, Technicka, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Zbyněk Heger
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Mendel University in Brno, Zemedelska 1, Brno, Czech Republic
- Central European Institute of Technology, Brno University of Technology, Technicka, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Petr Babula
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University, Kamenice, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Vladimír Pekařík
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Mendel University in Brno, Zemedelska 1, Brno, Czech Republic
- Central European Institute of Technology, Brno University of Technology, Technicka, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Markéta Vaculovičoá
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Mendel University in Brno, Zemedelska 1, Brno, Czech Republic
- Central European Institute of Technology, Brno University of Technology, Technicka, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Cláudio M. Gomes
- Faculdade de Ciências Universidade de Lisboa, Biosystems and Integrative Sciences Institute and Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Universidade de Lisboa, Campo Grande, Lisboa, Portugal
| | - René Kizek
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Mendel University in Brno, Zemedelska 1, Brno, Czech Republic
- Central European Institute of Technology, Brno University of Technology, Technicka, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Vojtěch Adam
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Mendel University in Brno, Zemedelska 1, Brno, Czech Republic
- Central European Institute of Technology, Brno University of Technology, Technicka, Brno, Czech Republic
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Iturbe-Espinoza P, Gil-Moreno S, Lin W, Calatayud S, Palacios Ò, Capdevila M, Atrian S. The Fungus Tremella mesenterica Encodes the Longest Metallothionein Currently Known: Gene, Protein and Metal Binding Characterization. PLoS One 2016; 11:e0148651. [PMID: 26882011 PMCID: PMC4755600 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0148651] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2015] [Accepted: 01/21/2016] [Indexed: 12/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Fungal Cu-thioneins, and among them, the paradigmatic Neurospora crassa metallothionein (MT) (26 residues), were once considered as the shortest MTs -the ubiquitous, versatile metal-binding proteins- among all organisms, and thus representatives of their primeval forms. Nowadays, fungal MTs of diverse lengths and sequence features are known, following the huge heterogeneity of the Kingdom of Fungi. At the opposite end of N. crassa MT, the recently reported Cryptococcus neoformans CnMT1 and CnMT2 (122 and 186 aa) constitute the longest reported fungal MTs, having been identified as virulence factors of this pathogen. CnMTs are high-capacity Cu-thioneins that appear to be built by tandem amplification of a basic unit, a 7-Cys segment homologous to N. crassa MT. Here, we report the in silico, in vivo and in vitro study of a still longer fungal MT, belonging to Tremella mesenterica (TmMT), a saprophytic ascomycete. The TmMT gene has 10 exons, and it yields a 779-bp mature transcript that encodes a 257 residue-long protein. This MT is also built by repeated fragments, but of variable number of Cys: six units of the 7-Cys building blocks-CXCX3CSCPPGXCXCAXCP-, two fragments of six Cys, plus three Cys at the N-terminus. TmMT metal binding abilities have been analyzed through the spectrophotometric and spectrometric characterization of its recombinant Zn-, Cd- and Cu-complexes. Results allow it to be unambiguous classified as a Cu-thionein, also of extraordinary coordinating capacity. According to this feature, when the TmMT cDNA is expressed in MT-devoid yeast cells, it is capable of restoring a high Cu tolerance level. Since it is not obvious that T. mesenterica shares the same physiological needs for a high capacity Cu-binding protein with C. neoformans, the existence of this peculiar MT might be better explained on the basis of a possible role in Cu-handling for the Cu-enzymes responsible in lignin degradation pathways.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paul Iturbe-Espinoza
- Departament de Genètica, Facultat de Biologia, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Selene Gil-Moreno
- Departament de Química, Facultat de Ciències, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Cerdanyola del Vallès, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Weiyu Lin
- Departament de Genètica, Facultat de Biologia, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Sara Calatayud
- Departament de Genètica, Facultat de Biologia, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Òscar Palacios
- Departament de Química, Facultat de Ciències, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Cerdanyola del Vallès, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Mercè Capdevila
- Departament de Química, Facultat de Ciències, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Cerdanyola del Vallès, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Sílvia Atrian
- Departament de Genètica, Facultat de Biologia, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
- * E-mail:
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Earthworm Lumbricus rubellus MT-2: Metal Binding and Protein Folding of a True Cadmium-MT. Int J Mol Sci 2016; 17:ijms17010065. [PMID: 26742040 PMCID: PMC4730310 DOI: 10.3390/ijms17010065] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2015] [Revised: 12/18/2015] [Accepted: 12/24/2015] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Earthworms express, as most animals, metallothioneins (MTs)—small, cysteine-rich proteins that bind d10 metal ions (Zn(II), Cd(II), or Cu(I)) in clusters. Three MT homologues are known for Lumbricus rubellus, the common red earthworm, one of which, wMT-2, is strongly induced by exposure of worms to cadmium. This study concerns composition, metal binding affinity and metal-dependent protein folding of wMT-2 expressed recombinantly and purified in the presence of Cd(II) and Zn(II). Crucially, whilst a single Cd7wMT-2 species was isolated from wMT-2-expressing E. coli cultures supplemented with Cd(II), expressions in the presence of Zn(II) yielded mixtures. The average affinities of wMT-2 determined for either Cd(II) or Zn(II) are both within normal ranges for MTs; hence, differential behaviour cannot be explained on the basis of overall affinity. Therefore, the protein folding properties of Cd- and Zn-wMT-2 were compared by 1H NMR spectroscopy. This comparison revealed that the protein fold is better defined in the presence of cadmium than in the presence of zinc. These differences in folding and dynamics may be at the root of the differential behaviour of the cadmium- and zinc-bound protein in vitro, and may ultimately also help in distinguishing zinc and cadmium in the earthworm in vivo.
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Blindauer CA. Advances in the molecular understanding of biological zinc transport. Chem Commun (Camb) 2015; 51:4544-63. [DOI: 10.1039/c4cc10174j] [Citation(s) in RCA: 66] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Recognition of the importance of zinc homeostasis for health has driven a surge in structural data on major zinc-transporting proteins.
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Lecina J, Palacios Ò, Atrian S, Capdevila M, Suades J. Rhenium and technetium tricarbonyl, {M(CO)3} (+) (M = Tc, Re), binding to mammalian metallothioneins: new insights into chemical and radiopharmaceutical implications. J Biol Inorg Chem 2014; 20:465-74. [PMID: 25511253 DOI: 10.1007/s00775-014-1226-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2014] [Accepted: 11/29/2014] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
This paper deals with the binding of the four mammalian metallothioneins (MTs) to the organometallic metal fragment {fac-M(CO)3}(+) (M = (99)Tc, Re), which is highly promising for the preparation of second-generation radiopharmaceuticals. The study of the transmetallation reaction between zinc and rhenium in Zn7-MT1 by means of UV-vis and CD spectroscopy demonstrated the incorporation of the {fac-Re(CO)3}(+) fragment to the MTs. This reaction should be performed at 70 °C to accelerate the reaction rate, a result that is consistent with the reported reactivity of the rhenium fragment. ESI-TOF MS demonstrated the formation of mixed-metal species as Zn6,{Re(CO)3}-MT, Zn6,{Re(CO)3}2-MT, and Zn5,{Re(CO)3}3-MT, as well as the different reactivity of the four MT isoforms. Hence, Zn-MT3 showed the highest reactivity, in agreement with its high Cu-thionein character, whereas Zn-MT2 exhibited the lowest reactivity, in line with its high Zn-thionein character. The reactivity of the Zn-loaded forms of MT1 and MT4 is intermediate between those of MT3 and MT2. The study of the binding of the {fac-(99)Tc(CO)3}(+) fragment to MTs showed a significant and very interesting different reactivity in relation to rhenium. The transmetallation reaction is much more effective with technetium than with rhenium and significant amounts of mixed Zn x ,{(99)Tc(CO)3} y -MT species were formed with the four MT isoforms whereas only MT3 rendered similar amounts of rhenium derivatives. The results obtained in this study support the possible use of technetium for labelling mammalian metallothioneins and also for possible radiopharmaceutical applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joan Lecina
- Departament de Química, Facultat de Ciències, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193, Cerdanyola del Vallès, Barcelona, Spain
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Carmona F, Mendoza D, Kord S, Asperti M, Arosio P, Atrian S, Capdevila M, Dominguez-Vera JM. Chemically and Biologically Harmless versus Harmful Ferritin/Copper-Metallothionein Couples. Chemistry 2014; 21:808-13. [DOI: 10.1002/chem.201404660] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2014] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
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