Amino acid sequence of the small cadmium-binding protein (MP II) from Nereis diversicolor (annelida, polychaeta). Evidence for a myohemerythrin structure.

The primary sequence of the low-molecular-mass cadmium-binding protein metalloprotein II of Nereis diversicolor (Hediste diversicolor, recent denomination) has been determined. This protein is composed of 119 amino acids and has 80.8% identity with the N. diversicolor myohemerythrin [Takagi, T. & Cox, J. A. (1991) FEBS Lett. 285, 25-27]. The fact that iron, which normally binds to myohemerythrin, is not found to be associated with the cadmium-binding protein metalloprotein II in cadmium-exposed animals could be the result of the complete abolition of the iron-binding capacity of the protein due to the binding of cadmium.