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

Abstract

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. Copyright © 1993, Wiley Blackwell. All rights reserved