Sequence-specific 1H-NMR assignments in rabbit-liver metallothionein-2.

The complete sequence-specific assignment of the 1H nuclear magnetic resonance spectrum of a major subform of rabbit liver metallothionein-2 is presented. The sequential assignment procedures revealed a number of differences with regard to results obtained by earlier partial chemical sequencing of a preparation now known to be microheterogeneous. In particular, the present data indicate a polypeptide chain length of 62 amino acid residues as compared to the occurrence of 61 amino acids in all other known mammalian metallothioneins. In the new sequence, which was also fully confirmed by chemical means, the additional amino acid residue was identified as Ala8' inserted between Ala8 and Ala9 of the standard amino acid numeration. In addition to the predominant protein species all preparations contained a minor component, for which the two-dimensional 1H-nuclear magnetic resonance features are compatible with a chemically different, homologous metallothionein.