Copper-thionein in melanoma.

Abstract

The phenomenon of an elevated copper concentration in melanoma tumors was examined. It was demonstrated that 50-60% of total tissue copper is associated with metallothionein. The amino acid composition, electronic absorption and fluorescence were identical to that of the many known vertebrate Cu-thioneins. The immunological identification of melanoma tissue metallothionein was successful. The elevated Cu-thionein concentration in melanoma tumor tissue is not yet understood. It appears to be a common concept that in most tumors transient changes of the copper status parallel the metallothionein levels.

• Authors: B Krauter, W Nagel, H J Hartmann, U Weser
• Journal: Biochimica et biophysica acta (Biochim Biophys Acta) Vol. 1013 Issue 3 Pg. 212-7 (Oct 09 1989) ISSN: 0006-3002 [Print] Netherlands
• PMID: 2804082 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Amino Acids
• copper thionein
• Mercaptoethanol
• Copper
• Metallothionein

Topics

• Amino Acids (analysis)
• Animals
• Chromatography, Gel
• Copper (analysis)
• Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay
• Horses
• Humans
• Immunoblotting
• Liver (analysis)
• Melanoma (analysis, veterinary)
• Mercaptoethanol (pharmacology)
• Metallothionein (analysis)
• Mice
• Mice, Inbred BALB C
• Rats
• Spectrophotometry