The wheat-germ Ec protein is a zinc-containing metallothionein

Abstract

The partial amino-acid sequence of the wheat-germ Ec protein has been published previously. Computer analysis failed to show a significant relation between the amino-acid sequence of Ec and the sequences of other proteins stored in the data base of the National Biomedical Research Foundation, Washington, DC. Visual inspection and comparison of the amino-acid sequence of Ec with the sequences of other proteins rich in half-cystine have revealed that the amino-acid sequence of Ec bears a compelling relation to sequences reported for animal metallothioneins. Experimental evidence is presented which supports the view that Ec is a zinc-containing metallothionein, the first metallothionein from higher plants for which an almost complete amino-acid sequence has been determined.