SELECTIVE AND SIMPLE QUANTIFICATION OF METALLOTHIONEIN III IN MOUSE BRAIN

Abstract

For the selective quantification of metallothionein (MT)-III, MT samples from mouse brain were converted to Hg-MT, then chromatographed using a double (connected-in-tandem) FPLC-gel permeation column system. The chromatogram showed two peaks with a slight overlap. Hg-MT-III was eluted prior to Hg-MT-I and II, probably due to a slightly higher molecular weight. The amount of each isomer was determined from an analysis of the Hg content in each fraction. The present procedure revealed that MT-III in the mouse brain was comparable in quantity to MT-I and II. Thus, MT-III in mouse brain could be selectively quantified at a sub-picomol level.