Comparison of the immunological properties of mammalian (rodent), bird, fish, amphibian (toad), and invertebrate (crab) metallothioneins.

Immunoassays such as rocket immunoelectrophoresis, western dot blot hybridization, and competitive ELISA analysis were used to estimate and compare homology among fishes (several species), crab, toad, chicken and rodent metallothioneins. The relative abundance of tissue-specific metallothionein in catfish was highest in liver followed by kidney and pancreas like mammalian systems. Immunologically, considerable homology exists among fish metallothioneins, although the extent of homology differs to some extent. No homology was found between fish or chicken metallothioneins. The amphibian (toad) and invertebrate (crab) metallothioneins showed only partial homology with fish metallothioneins in antigenic determinants.