Cloning, nucleotide sequence and characterization of a New Zealand rabbit metallothionein-I gene.

We have isolated a rabbit metallothionein-I gene from a lambda gt10 library. The coding sequence of this gene is interrupted by two introns occurring at amino acid positions 9 1/3 and 30 1/3. Comparison of the promoter sequence of this gene with the promoters of other metallothionein genes identified a number of oligonucleotide sequences which are recognized by trans-acting proteins involved in the regulation of these genes by heavy metals, glucocorticoids and alpha interferon.