High concentration of pancreatic metallothionein in normal mice.

An elution profile of supernatant of normal mouse pancreas on a Sephadex G-75 column showed a high peak of zinc in the metallothionein fraction. Cd was added to the supernatant of the mouse pancreas, and 2 cadmium binding proteins were purified by gel filtration and DEAE chromatography. Absorption spectrum and amino acid compositions of the purified proteins agreed with those of MT-I and -II. The concentration of metallothionein in the mouse pancreas was high (227 +/- 11 micrograms/g on 36th day after the birth). The metallothionein concentration in the mouse pancreas was increased by injections of zinc, alloxan or streptozotocin. The results indicate that metallothionein is one of the main zinc-binding components in mouse pancreas.