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Copper metallothionein in patients with hepatic copper overload
Author(s) -
HUNZIKER P. E.,
STERNLIEB I.
Publication year - 1991
Publication title -
european journal of clinical investigation
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.164
H-Index - 107
eISSN - 1365-2362
pISSN - 0014-2972
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2362.1991.tb01396.x
Subject(s) - metallothionein , copper , cytosol , cirrhosis , chemistry , gene isoform , medicine , biochemistry , gastroenterology , enzyme , organic chemistry , gene
. We studied the Cu‐MT present in the hepatic cytosol obtained from 7 patients suffering from conditions associated with hepatic Cu overload (Wilson's disease, biliary atresia, familial cholestatic cirrhosis). Since chromatographic methods appropriate for the isolation of Zn‐ and Cd‐MT were unsuitable for Cu‐MT, we developed an indirect procedure for the estimation and resolution of the latter. This procedure involved the preparation of apo‐MT and its reconstitution to holo‐MT with Zn or Cd. Three predominant isoforms of MT were present in all specimens. Our results indicate that at most 36 ± 5% of the Cu present in the 10 kDa fraction of cytosol is bound to MT in the liver of patients with hepatic copper overload.