Metallothionein in the liver of the small lizard Podarcis muralis

A cysteine-rich protein presenting optical and biochemical features typical of metallothionein and a similar amino acid composition was found in the liver of the small lizard Podarcis muralis. Animals were given either CdCl2 (0.8 mg Cd2+/kg body wt) or saline (NaCl 0.9%) by i.p. injection for 3 days. A second group of animals were injected with a single dose of [35S]cysteine plus CdCl2 or saline. Lizard MT contained Zn and Cu when injected with saline and also Cd when injected with CdCl2. Metallothionein induction by cadmium was demonstrated by radioactive labelling.