Crystal structure of Cd,Zn metallothionein

The crystal structure of Cd,Zn metallothionein isoform II from rat liver has been determined using the anomalous scattering data from five Cd in the native protein. The structure of a 4Cd cluster was solved by direct methods. A 2.3 A resolution electron density map was calculated by an iterative solvent leveling and map inversion procedure. The structure is folded into two domains. The N-terminal domain (beta) of residues 1-29 enfolds a three-metal cluster of 1 Cd and 2 Zn coordinated by six terminal cysteine thiolate ligands and three bridging cysteine thiolates. The C-terminal domain (alpha) of residues 30-61 enfolds a 4Cd cluster coordinated by six terminal and five bridging cysteine thiolates. All seven metal sites have tetrahedral coordination geometry. The domains are roughly spherical, diameter 15-20 A; there is limited contact between domains. The folding of alpha and beta is topologically similar but with opposite chirality. Redundant, short cysteine-containing sequences have similar roles in cluster formation in both alpha and beta. The Cd1Zn2(cys)9 cluster is homologous with a 12 atom fragment of the Cd4(cys)11 cluster.