Redox Silencing of Copper in Metal-linked Neurodegenerative Disorders

Dysregulation of copper and zinc homeostasis in the brain plays a critical role in Alzheimer disease (AD). Copper binding to amyloid-beta peptide (Abeta) is linked with the neurotoxicity of Abeta and free radical damage. Metallothionein-3 (MT-3) is a small cysteine- and metal-rich protein expressed in the brain and found down-regulated in AD. This protein occurs intra- and extracellularly, and it plays an important role in the metabolism of zinc and copper. In cell cultures Zn7MT-3, by an unknown mechanism, protects neurons from the toxicity of Abeta. We have, therefore, used a range of complementary spectroscopic and biochemical methods to characterize the interaction of Zn7MT-3 with free Cu2+ ions. We show that Zn7MT-3 scavenges free Cu2+ ions through their reduction to Cu+ and binding to the protein. In this reaction thiolate ligands are oxidized to disulfides concomitant with Zn2+ release. The binding of the first four Cu2+ is cooperative forming a Cu(I)4-thiolate cluster in the N-terminal domain of Cu4,Zn4MT-3 together with two disulfides bonds. The Cu4-thiolate cluster exhibits an unusual stability toward air oxygen. The results of UV-visible, CD, and Cu(I) phosphorescence at 77 K suggest the existence of metal-metal interactions in this cluster. We have demonstrated that Zn7MT-3 in the presence of ascorbate completely quenches the copper-catalyzed hydroxyl radical (OH.) production. Thus, zinc-thiolate clusters in Zn7MT-3 can efficiently silence the redox-active free Cu2+ ions. The biological implication of our studies as to the protective role of Zn7MT-3 from the Cu2+ toxicity in AD and other neurodegenerative disorders is discussed.