Synthesis of a nonacosapeptide (β-fragment) corresponding to the N-terminal sequence 1-29 of human liver metallothionein II and its heavy metal-binding properties

Abstract
A nonacosapeptide (β-fragment) corresponding to the N-terminal sequence 1–29 of human liver metallothionein II was synthesized by the fragment condensation method. The Cd-binding ability of the β-fragment was much stronger than that of cysteine as thionein and synthetic α-fragment corresponding to the C-terminal sequence 30–61 of human liver metallothionein II. Both the α- and β-fragments bound preferentially to Cu ions rather than Cd ions.