[Metal-binding capacity of metallothioneins of the liver of rats poisoned with heavy metals].

The functioning of metallothioneins in the liver of rats, poisoned with copper sulfate and cadmium sulfate has been investigated. By sequential chromatography on sephadex G-50 and DEAE-cellulose the authors obtained metallothioneins (MT-1, MT-1A, MT-2, MT-2a), which differ in molecular weight and composition of associated metals. Heavy metal poisoning leads to activation of synthesis and metal-binding function of metallothioneins, as well as to changes in the composition of their isoforms.